Saleh Fareed

Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH – Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Secretary General Adnan Mandoura inaugurated on Sunday at Hilton Jeddah the second Middle East and North African ASTD MENA 2014 training and development.



“We invest significantly in training and professional development and expect our people to take advantage of the investment,” said Mandoura during the opening.



He noted that as an estimated 60 percent of the Saudi population is under the age of 30, the Saudi government has prioritized the development of its human capital in an effort to increase employment opportunities for Saudi nationals and provide its population with the necessary skills to meet the demands of its expanding economy.



He added “our aim is to offer young Saudis education and training that helps them compete for jobs successfully in the local labor market.  We are committed to making a difference to young people’s lives and futures in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”



The theme for this year’s ASTD MENA 2014 is “Enabling Excellence in Human Capital Development”. The conference is designed to focus attention on training and development of the workforce as a key driver for performance in organizations of every size and in every industry.



According to Walid Wakid, vice president of Al Harithy Company for Exhibitions, the ASTD MENA 2014 is designed for all professionals, trainers, and decision makers in the fields of human resources development, organizational development, learning & development, talent management, career development, performance improvement/coaching, and training technology.



He announced that 28 specialists and experts in training from the US, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Malaysia will be speaking during the three-day conference.



The exclusive conference for workplace learning and development professionals is expected to be attended by 600 participants from more than 20 countries. These professionals manage all aspects of learning in their organizations.



The event covers a vast spectrum ranging from CEOs and specialists to school heads and students.



ASTD 2014 will also feature a number of educational sessions and an expo with the latest products and services from more than 500 top suppliers.



This year’s event will be organized by The American Society for Training & Development (ASTD) and Professionals Institute with the support of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).