JEDDAH, 2 May 2007 — Germany offered a vast range of training options during a meeting between its visiting delegation and local businessmen at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday.
“All 20 members of the delegation are training providers and they are all here to explore the prospects of joint ventures,” Sabine-Gummersbach-Majoroh, mission leader and iMOVE (Training – Made in Germany), told Arab News on the sidelines of the meeting.
iMOVE is an initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
The visitors were earlier in Riyadh meeting officials of the General Organization for Technical Education and Vocational Guidance (GOTEVOT), Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and a technical training institute as well as businessmen at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“Our German training providers aim to gain more information about the training market and establish contact with potential partners,” she said, adding that some of them would also study the prospects of establishing training centers in collaboration with local partners.
“Based on its long experience, Germany is a competent partner in the field of professional training. We have one of the world’s most efficient vocational training systems characterized by practice-orientation and a strong responsiveness to the demands of the labor market. Particularly in the field of continuing vocational training, we have a great variety of high-quality training providers,” German Ambassador Jurgen Krieghoff said.
In Jeddah, the delegation visited the Juffali Training Center and participated in a matchmaking event with Saudi companies at the JCCI.
German Consul General Dr. Hubert Lang said the size of the delegation indicated his country’s tremendous interest exploring the potentially rich Saudi market for training. Germany specializes in training in all fields of economic activity, notably insurance, banking, communication and health care, as well as at professional and vocational levels.
Adnan Mandourah, general manager of the business division at the JCCI, said the Kingdom had a huge demand for vocational training. “Usually, we get overseas delegations related to trade but it was a happy augury that we now have an exclusive mission of training providers at a time when we need them the most,” he said.
Mark Potstada, deputy delegate of German Industry and Commerce at AHK – German Saudi Arabian Liaison Office for Economic Affairs, which jointly hosted the delegation, said: “The delegation has come after hearing a lot about the Kingdom’s Saudization program. Its members offer tailor-made training solutions under a dual system covering both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. “This is a huge market with huge potential and so our training providers make good use of the opportunity. The visit of the delegation is only our first move and we will bring more German businessmen to explore this market,” he added.
German training providers are well equipped to offer training systems and courses appropriate to the social needs and interests of the local industry, he added.
He said one of the delegation members stayed behind in Riyadh as he wanted to discuss further about a possible joint venture arrangement with a local businessman to offer training in welding.
