JEDDAH — The Saudi Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry with the cooperation of Japanese governmental bodies such as the SME Support Japan (SMRJ), JIPM and JCCME conducted a training program in Jeddah for Saudi engineers of manufacturing companies at MODON. The program consisted of Production Efficiency Management and Quality Control Development, both of which stressed practical exercises unlike many regular business seminars. The Japanese training programs for young Saudi engineers were held successfully in the past three years in Dammam and Riyadh. This year, the course was taken as one of the challenges under Vision 2030 in the field of the development of the private sector and strengthening SMEs in the Kingdom by the Saudi-Japan joint effort. More than 50 young Saudi engineers from about 25 companies attended this year's program and were awarded certificates for completion of the course. All parties concerned with this training had strong confidence that all participants have acquired fruitful technical ideas and important knowledge related to their companies to raise competitiveness. — SG