The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and the Engineers Welfare Forum (EWF) signed a memorandum of understanding on Thursday to establish the first joint vocational training institute (VTI), which will cover about 15 trades.

Dr. Abdul Aleem Khan, EWF president, said the forum is a non-political, non-profit organization working to upgrade moral and technical values, and know-how of engineers by conducting symposiums, seminars, workshops, offering scholarships to meritorious and needy engineering students, assisting in career building and jobs search.

Since EWF holds a chapter of IEP — Institution of Engineers Pakistan — it also arranges membership registration of professional engineers working in the Kingdom.

The idea of training Saudis was originally discussed with Talal Samarkandi, head of the engineering committee of JCCI which was endorsed by JCCI Vice Chairman Mazen Batterjee who extended full cooperation for this project.

Batterjee appreciated the role of EWF in supporting Saudization and training young Saudis to become professionals. He said that the idea of cooperation between the chamber and Pakistani engineers was under discussion for some time and its realization with the MoU was a happy occasion.

According to him, Pakistanis have played a major role in the development of Saudi Arabia. “We have great understanding due to Islamic fraternal relationship between the two countries,” he said, and added, “We will jointly work to ensure success of the Vocational Training Institute and will move further afterward. Our offices and all facilities are available to accomplish this task.”

Pakistan Consul General and EWF’s patron Aftab Khokher said that it was a great moment and honor for him to witness this event because since his arrival in Jeddah, EWF was discussing this project.

“I am happy that it has come to fruition due to full support of Batterjee,” he said, adding that the Institute will help Saudi and Pakistani manpower in enhancing their skills to be more productive and beneficial for the Kingdom.

He appreciated Batterjee’s role in supporting regularization of manpower during the amnesty period, and extended all help to EWF to achieve its aims .

Syed Abdul Qader Shah, chairman of Pakistan Engineers Council (PEC) congratulated EWF for signing the MoU, which was an important event not only for engineers but for Pakistan as well. He said PEC is an apex body established in 1976 for betterment of Pakistani engineers working anywhere in the world. He said PEC also cooperates with professional engineering organizations in the Muslim world because western nations are far ahead in technology and “if we don’t share and cooperate in engineering education, we would always be borrowing technology from them.”

Masroor Elahi, secretary-general, compered the event. He spoke about the activities of the forum. The function was attended by prominent Pakistani and Saudi guests, including Sohail Ali Khan, press consul; Choudhry Shahbaz Hussain and Riaz Bukhari.