US mission organizes technical training trade delegation to Kingdom

DHAHRAN — The United States Department of Commerce and the US Consulate in Dhahran, in collaboration with the Asharqia Chamber of Commerce, are organizing a Vocational and Technical Training Trade Mission to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Feb. 6-7, 2017. The trade mission is organized in direct support of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program (NTP) and is aimed at collaborating with the Kingdom to achieve its objectives of developing a highly-skilled, competent, and productive technical and vocational workforce. The delegation will feature 20 US training providers with proven records of success in diverse industries, including IT & cyber security and technical and professional development programs in the energy, construction, hospitality, aviation, and health care sectors. These US institutions seek to create capacity-building partnerships by: • conducting needs assessment and curriculum development; • designing and implementing sector-specific technical and vocational training modules; • developing and deploying teacher/instructor training and development modules; • designing and erecting modern laboratories and workshops; • developing and launching practical job development programs; and • establishing plans and programs for attaining accreditation. Major Saudi technical and vocational training institutions, state-owned enterprises, and education leaders such as the Saudi Technical and Vocational Training Corporation and Saudi Aramco have confirmed participation and will provide vital information on Saudi Arabia’s training plans and policies, funding mechanisms, and industry prospects. Furthermore, the event will include presentations, roundtable discussions, site visits, and pre-scheduled one-to-one meetings between prospective US and Saudi partners. The upcoming VoTech Mission is the fourth major US undertaking in the past 15 months in support of priorities articulated in Vision 2030 and the NTP. Past events included: the US Architecture/Engineering Trade Mission on Smart Building Construction and Energy Efficiency to Riyadh and Jeddah (October 2015), the US Health Technologies and Training Trade Mission to Riyadh and Jeddah (April 2016), and the US Safety and Security Trade Mission to Riyadh and Dhahran (November 2016). The US Mission to Saudi Arabia values its growing collaboration with key Saudi public and private sector partners and stands ready to assist the Kingdom realize its far-reaching and transformative reform agenda under Vision 2030 and the NTP. — SG