JEDDAH, 9 July — Prince Abdullah, the regent, yesterday highlighted the government’s plans to create more job opportunities for Saudis in both private and public sectors and to promote higher education.
Addressing the weekly Cabinet meeting, Prince Abdullah stressed the need for making the Kingdom’s educational programs in conformity with job market requirements and development needs.
He commended the private sector’s support for higher education by establishing two private universities and several private colleges, adding that these institutions will expand educational opportunities in the country. He called upon businessmen and national firms to open more universities and colleges in various parts of the Kingdom, especially in areas which lack higher educational facilities.
"The new universities and colleges must focus on specializations required by the job market, economy and modern technology," he said.
Prince Abdullah noted the private sector’s cooperation with the government, especially in training Saudi youths and providing them with employment.
"The government is committed to creating a more conducive atmosphere so that the private sector can play a leading role in economic development and create job opportunities," the regent told the Cabinet. The Cabinet meeting endorsed the national policy for science and technology presented by the planning minister and the president of King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology.
State Minister and Acting Information Minister Dr. Madani Allaki said Prince Abdullah briefed the ministers on the outcome of his recent talks with Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in Jeddah. The talks focused on strengthening bilateral ties and Middle East peace.
Referring to the agreements with other countries on air transportation, Allaki said the Cabinet approved new guidelines for concluding such agreements.
The Cabinet agreed to provide soft loans for development projects in Oman and Bahrain through Saudi lending organizations in accordance with a resolution adopted by the last GCC summit in Muscat.
The Cabinet meeting also agreed to treat GCC citizens working in the Kingdom’s civil service on par with Saudis in line with a resolution adopted by the GCC summit in Manama on Dec. 31, 2000.
However, the Cabinet said the GCC citizens holding such jobs should have signed a work contract and that preference should be given to qualified Saudis while filling such civil service jobs. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) groups Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates.
