The Saudi Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Eng. Ahmed Al-Rajhi has launched five qualitative initiatives for developing skills and providing training for Saudi professionals, according to the English speaking Saudi newspaper Saudi Gazette.

According to the media outlet, the minister said that the ministry aims to create 2.31 million training opportunities within the private sector by the end of 2025.

The news came as the minister announced the National Training Campaign (Waad) with the aim of boosting training to Saudis through the private sector. With the launch of the Waad campaign, Saudi Arabia would have reached 1,155,000 training opportunities within the private sector and will be doubling the number by the end of 2025.

“The promises of commitment to training reached 1,155,000 training opportunities until the end of 2025, through the participation of 14 Saudi companies,” he was quoted by Saudi Gazette.

According to Eng. Al-Rajhi, the ministry’s skills and training initiatives include the ‘National Program to Stimulate the Private Sector’ initiative to train its employees, as well as students and graduates. 

“This initiative targets one million training opportunities by the end of 2025 as previously scheduled. With the launch of the Waad campaign, we have reached 1,155,000 training opportunities in the private sector, and we look forward to doubling the number by the end of 2025,” said the minister during a ceremony.

He added that there will be another initiative to establish sectoral councils for skills in partnership with the private sector that will target 12 sectoral councils as well as the initiative to build national occupational standards for more than 300 professions.

The Waad initiative aims to motivate the private sector to train, according to seven criteria for joining the campaign which includes traininbg 12 percent of Saudi private sector employees annually.