4,200 Emiratis are ready for job market

Abu Dhabi: More than 4,000 Emiratis will be ready to join the private sector soon, an official in the capital said.

Speaking at Tawteen's first showcase held at Emirates Palace, Dr Saleh Al Hashemi, Managing Director of Tawteen, said: "The programme has achieved a very important progress to empower nationals and improve their skills through more than 54,000 development hours to prepare young Emiratis to work in the private sector; around 4,200 Emiratis have benefited from the training programmes since the initiative was launched in 2007."

Tawteen is an initiative launched by the Emirates Foundation to empower Emiratis by unlocking their potential and building career pathways to private sector employment.

Shaikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chief of the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince's Court and Chairman of the Higher Corporation of Specialised Economy Zones, attended the event along with recognised partners of the programme.

The programme offers long-term economic and social benefits using various specifically designed development initiatives.

Currently the programme includes seven projects which are: career guidance counselling, vocational awareness, internships, entrepreneurship and innovation, bridge to success (industry summer school), leadership and women in the workplace.

"The private sector is very important for achieving extra value for individuals and the whole society as it plays an active role in the development process," said Al Hashemi.

"On the other hand the growth in this sector provides huge employment opportunities; statistics shows the average annual growth in the private sector is 8.7 per cent while it is only 1.6 per cent in the public sector between 2002 and 2007; which encourages us to support the development process through the private sector," he said.

The initiative is being held across the UAE.