- Underlines GE's commitment to strengthen Saudi national workforce across its operations in the Kingdom
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; June 18, 2011: GE (NYSE: GE) is extending rewarding career opportunities for Saudi Arabian nationals across its various businesses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the Saudi Arabian Cultural Ministry (SACM) Career Fair being held at the Gaylord National Harbor, Washington DC from June 17 to 19, 2011.
Organized under the patronage of His Excellency Dr Khalid Al-Angari, Minister of Higher Education; and His Excellency Mr Adel Al-Jubeir, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the US, the career fair is held as part of the Graduation Ceremony of the fourth class of the King Abdullah Scholarship Program. The largest Saudi career fair abroad, the SACM serves as a forum of interaction for King Abdullah Scholarship Program graduates from around the US with potential employers including the private sector.
At the fair, GE is underscoring its commitment to Saudization with a focus on doubling its workforce in the Kingdom from over 800 now to 1,600 by 2013, and to educate, develop, train and hire Saudi talent. The graduates can apply for positions with GE's different businesses in the Kingdom at the SACM Career Fair.
This further builds on the recent opening of the GE Energy Manufacturing Technology Center in Dammam, the company's SAR 1 billion (US$250 million) investment to support the Saudi Vision 2020, aimed at boosting economic diversification, promoting manufacturing and strengthening knowledge transfer to talented Saudi professionals.
Walid Abukhaled, GE's President & CEO in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, said: "With over eight decades of active partnership in the Kingdom, GE is at the forefront of proactively training and nurturing Saudi professionals, and offering them rewarding career opportunities across our key businesses covering healthcare, aviation, energy, water and oil & gas. The SACM Career Fair serves as a perfect opportunity for GE to demonstrate the professional growth prospects that await the Saudi graduates on their return to the Kingdom, and how they can contribute to the Kingdom's social and economic prosperity."
He added: "We are focused on creating new jobs for young, skilled Saudis, as highlighted by the GE Energy Manufacturing Technology Center, which will create over 2,000 GE jobs and drives the growth of indirect jobs in ancillary industries. For Saudi graduates, a partnership with GE will serve as a perfect fit to broaden their experience by working with one of the world's leading companies, while also becoming part of the new economic growth dynamic for the Kingdom envisaged by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud."
Business leaders and HR professionals of GE are attending the Fair to interact with the young graduates and explain to them the various leadership development programs and training courses offered by the company for its employees to ensure continued professional growth. The US has the largest number of Saudi students at over 30,000, and the SACM Career Fair is expected to be attended by over 1,500 young Saudi graduates.
Among the key programs that enable employees to accomplish their full potential and evolve personally and professionally are the Edison Engineering Development Program, Financial Management Program, Communications Leadership Development Program, Commercial Leadership Program, Field Engineering Program, HR Leadership Program and Experienced Commercial Leadership Program.
Further strengthening its commitment to provide training for Saudi engineers and other industry professionals, GE recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Saudi Arabia's Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) to expand the GE joint technical program (GE JTP). The expanded GE JTP aims to annually train up to 100 students, selected from leading technical colleges across the Kingdom.
GE has also joined hands with King Abdullah University of Science & Technology's marking the first private sector alliance of the leading educational institution for collaboration in research & development. The company has also joined hands with King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) to establish the GE Energy Fuel Research Center to promote alternative fuels; and for collaborative research.
Ranked among the world's top 25 most inventive companies by 'Business Week,' and in the top 50 most innovative companies ranking by 'Fast Company' in 2010, GE offers potential employees a work culture led by innovation.
Continuing GE's over 130-year history of successful development in human capital around the globe, GE has steadily expanded our knowledge-sharing initiatives in Saudi. The company has developed several successful co-op programs with leading Saudi institutions such as the King Abdullah University of Science & Technology. Most recently, GE extended its highly successful Graduate Management Program (GMP) to the Kingdom.
With over 80 years of presence in the Kingdom and 800 employees, GE is part of the people's lives, supporting Saudi Arabia's growth through imagination and innovation. GE has invested almost SAR 1 billion in localization and manufacturing across energy, healthcare, aviation, power and water, aimed at addressing the needs of the Saudi people.
Kelly Home
ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller
[email protected]
+971 4 4507 600
Nivine William
ASDA’A Burson-Marsteller
[email protected]
+971 4 4507 600
Caroline Wehbeh
GE Communications Leader, North Africa
[email protected]
+971 4 429 6318