Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh highlighted that continuing education and training on the job is what will help the Kingdom flourish The minister of state said the Kingdom’s National Investment Strategy takes into consideration different regions and segments of society RIYADH: Developing human resources within Saudi Arabia’s industrial sector is crucial to staying on top of the market, particularly as technology continues to evolve, an official has emphasized. Speaking on the first day of the Multilateral Industrial Policy Forum, held in Riyadh from Oct. 23-24, Minister of State and member of the Saudi Cabinet Hamad bin Mohammed Al-Sheikh highlighted that continuing education and training on the job is what will help the Kingdom flourish. This falls in line with the Kingdom’s goal to multiply the industrial gross domestic product by roughly three times by 2030, double the job opportunities to 2.1 million, and aim for industrial exports of SR557 billion ($148 billion), according to Set Up Saudi, which helps businesses become established and grow in Saudi Arabia. “Creating continuing education and training on the job through introducing different kinds of short or mini-courses to upgrade the level of skills because, without skills and continuous training, the technology is changing. So, you need to upgrade your human resources with the professional development programs, which is also introduced in the form of many courses and professional degrees or certificates,” Al-Sheikh said, during a ministerial roundtable titled “Leveraging industrial policy for SDG impact – Practical insights.” He added: “Furthermore, through joint partnerships with vocational and technical training, they have specific programs where they hire before even training. They sign, with the trainee, the contract. Many of these colleges have agreements with Aramco, with SABIC, with Ma’aden, and then they start also training the local people on the comparative advantage that they have in their locality.” The minister of state further emphasized that such initiatives are crucial to ensuring that industrialization includes all segments of society while maximizing efficiency to deliver the greatest value for the country. “In respect of industrialization and how it could be inclusive, I think Saudi Arabia has done its effort to make it multi-dimensional, multi-regional in all of its work. All strategies are aligned and take a process in the planning, strategic planning such that all parties involved are aligned with,” Al-Sheikh said. He added that the Kingdom’s National Investment Strategy takes into consideration different regions and segments of society. “We have 36 industrial cities that are across the regions of Saudi Arabia in order not to leave any kind of region from its share of industrialization,” said Al-Sheikh. The minister of state continued to highlight that the strategy is focused on people, aiming to enhance skills through development programs that ensure both men and women benefit from these industrial advancements. Coordinated by the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources in partnership with the UN Industrial Development Organization under the slogan “Industrial Policies for a Sustainable Future,” the two-day forum aims to support the development of the global industrial sector by formulating effective and innovative policies that keep pace with current global challenges and trends. The event is the first of its kind to be held outside the headquarters of the UNIDO in Vienna.