LEITH, 6 May 2006 – King Abdul Aziz University (KAAU) has inked an agreement of cooperation for training and research in the field of shrimp farming with a leading private company in the Kingdom, Arab News learned on Thursday.
According to the agreement the National Shrimp Company will provide training for 25 students of the KAAU’s College of Oceanography in various aspects of shrimp farming industry leading to their diploma and bachelor’s degree in the technology, KAAU President Osama Sadeq Taib said in a press meeting following the signing of the agreement with Suleiman Al-Rajhi, chairman of the board of directors of National Shrimp Company, on Thursday. On a question whether the university will establish a new college for shrimp farming the president said the college is virtually present through the shrimp company with its vast wealth of expertise and potential of international standard.
Taib underscored the significance of increased cooperation between institutions of higher education and the private sector in offering training for the Saudi youths in line with the present government policy. “This is one of the major economic programs which gives an upward push to the economy particularly with the company’s experience of a quarter of century,” Taib said.
The country is striving to diversify its income base by encouraging such programs as developing and exporting shrimp products, which have an ever-increasing demand in the international market, Taib added.