RIYADH, 25 August 2005 — General Motors (GM) and the General Organization for Technical & Vocational Training (GOTEVOT) have formed a strategic partnership to start the first GM’s program to train Saudi nationals in Riyadh, which is set to accept its first students later this year.
Officials of the two organizations visited the new training institute recently to review the progress ahead of the launch of the program, which aims to provide comprehensive training to young Saudis in a number of areas in the automotive industry. The training program will form the cornerstone of GM’s Saudization program, offering 18-month training courses aimed at entry-level technicians all the way up to complete automotive apprenticeships.
“We’ve been very impressed by the infrastructure at the GETOVOT. They’ve been great partners over the last six months and I would really like to thank them for their input. We’re making tremendous progress and without their partnership we would not be in the position we are now. Together we hope to welcome our first batch of students before the end of September,” GM Middle East Training Manager Dennis Palmer said.
The first batch of students at the Riyadh training institute will consist of new recruits from GM’s dealers in Saudi Arabia who will be sent for training and development prior to taking up their new roles. Aljomaih Automotive Company Vice Chairman & CEO Ibrahim Aljomaih referred to the progress made so far. “As GM dealers, we’re all passionate about this new program, which will help create a pool of trained and qualified technicians and retail staff to help ensure our long term success in the market. It is further proof of GM’s commitment to the country,” he said.
After their meeting with Dr. Fahd Al-Tuwaijry, vice governor for joint training, GOTEVOT, Ahmed Abu Haliqah, program supervisor, and Dr. Zamil Mohammad Al-Zamil from the Riyadh technical institute, GM officials were taken on a tour of the institute and the new headquarters of the vocational training institute that will house the program. “The Riyadh technical institute is a very impressive facility with the latest training equipment available,” Adnan Alkhamis, GM’s manager for strategic initiatives in the Kingdom, said.
“It will provide a major boost to the government’s plans to nationalize the work force in Saudi Arabia, giving our youth the skills they need to take up a range of positions in the automotive industry.”
GM has been operating in the Kingdom since the early 1940s and today it has a network of four dealers - Aljomaih Automotive Company, Alissa Automotive Company, Omar Balubaid Company and Universal Motors Agencies (UMA).
