RIYADH — The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) organized a ceremony recently here to mark the sending off of the first batch of students selected for its Entertainment Scholarship Program.

The 60 male and female students are set to travel to the USA on scholarship where they will pursue bachelor's degrees in entertainment disciplines from the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at Central Florida University.

Upon their graduation, they will join Al-Qiddiya Investment Company to utilize their acquired skills and knowledge towards developing the Kingdom's entertainment sector.

GEA's CEO Amr Banaja expressed his pride in this program, which will positively impact on the Kingdom's growth and ultimately support achieving the targets outlined in the Quality of Life Program and Vision 2030.

He also urged the students to represent their nation with pride and benefit to the maximum from this opportunity, which will enable them to play a vital role in transferring valuable knowledge and experiences to Saudi Arabia.

GEA had launched the Entertainment Scholarship Program last July with the aim to enroll Saudi youth in prestigious entertainment-related programs at the bachelor's and master's levels to enrich the Saudi labor market with qualified and capable local talents. — SG