JEDDAH, 4 September 2005 — Trainees who have successfully graduated at the Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute (SJAHI) have been offered employment by local dealers. Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed made the announcement at yesterday’s graduation ceremony.
One hundred and ninety-seven of the graduates have been absorbed by the workshops of Japanese automobile dealers in 21 cities. The graduation was the institute’s second since its inception over two years ago.
Prince Abdul Majeed said the institute would help speed up the Saudization program in the car maintenance sector. He underscored the institute’s role in training Saudis in one of the most important areas.
“It guarantees jobs for them at (automobile) maintenance centers,” the governor said and called for the establishment of more such institutes to train the national cadre.
Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi also called on the private sector to invest more in such institutes. “My ministry will give full support to all such projects, as our labor market needs tens of thousands of automobile technicians,” the minister said.
Dr. Ali Al-Ghafees, governor of General Organization for Technical Education & Vocational Training which represents the government on the SJAHI, said the institute was the fruit of “sound planning and sincere desire” for training young Saudis in automobile technology.
“This successful experience will instill confidence in all dealers (of all automobiles) to set up similar institutes,” he added.
Japanese Ambassador Yasuo Saito commended the Kingdom’s effort to match international economic standards. “The Kingdom’s efforts to open up the economy, introduce reforms to develop the private sector and diversify non-oil revenues are also commendable. All this is helping to create more job opportunities for young Saudis,” he said.
SJAHI Director Salim Hassan Al-Asmarei said the government support to the institute was laudable and all the more important as it was meant to train the Saudi work force. He thanked the Saudi car dealers for offering jobs to the institute’s graduates and had a word of appreciation for the Japanese government and car manufacturers for supporting the institute by providing advanced training equipment.
Muhammad Abdul Latif Jameel, chairman of the National Committee for Japanese Car Dealers, was among many other dignitaries present.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah formally inaugurated the institute, located on Jeddah-Makkah Expressway on March 19, 2003, in his capacity then as the crown prince, with the cooperation of members of the Japanese Automobile Distributors in the Kingdom and the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association of Japan. There are currently 419 students in the institute, with about 200 graduating every year.
Nine companies — all dealers of Japanese automobiles — support and bear the running costs of the institute. The Japan International Cooperation Agency, which represents the Japanese government, provides expertise and technical equipment as well as instructors and administrative staff.
Students have to complete their training period in two years. The first graduation ceremony was held on Oct. 3, 2004, when a total of 190 students graduated at the ceremony conducted in the presence of the Makkah governor. Those graduates are now employed at various Japanese car dealers’ service centers and showrooms across the Kingdom.
The applicant must be a Saudi national, a high school graduate with a major in science and not older than 20 years of age. Once enrolled, a student is given a monthly stipend of SR1,200. Other than day students, there are also resident students for whom there is a dormitory facility and other amenities including a mosque, a dining hall and a fitness center.
The institute awards a diploma to a successful graduate, which is equivalent to diplomas offered by the Kingdom’s technical colleges.
