RIYADH, 23 May 2004 — Minister of Labor Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi will tonight open the Human Resources Development Forum at the King Faisal Conference Hall.
The purpose of the forum is for international experts to provide input for the Kingdom’s Saudization program. The event has been organized by the Human Resources Development Fund in conjunction with Inter Media Arabia.
Khaled Al-Gari, chairman of Inter Media Arabia and a member of the organizing committee, said that it would be a three-in-one event — an international forum on major issues concerning human resources development and employment, a series of workshops designed to expand job opportunities for Saudis and an exhibition at the adjoining Riyadh InterContinental Hall which showcases the latest in training and employment opportunities.
The workshops are scheduled from 8.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. tomorrow and Tuesday.
Al-Gari said International experts would present studies undertaken by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the World Bank, Malaysia, Tunisia, the UAE, Ireland, Austria, and the new European Union member countries.
The Kingdom has made human resources development its No. 1 priority with over SR267 billion allocated for it during the last three and a half decades.
Saudization, Al-Gari pointed out, has two dimensions — an educated work force entering the labor market every year and the Kingdom’s unique demographics with over 60 percent of its population under 21.
