Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is sponsoring the vocational training of 1,200 young Omanis as part of its huge drive to create 50,000 jobs in the non-oil sector.
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The jobseekers will be guaranteed full-time employment on successful completion of their training in a variety of key economic sectors including industrial development, real estate, hospitality and fashion.
PDO has signed 15 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with a range of public and private industry partners committing to the programme as it steps up its efforts to support the Government and spur economic diversification in the Sultanate.
The MoUs include commitments for:
137 posts with nine of the Sultanate’s leading hotels – the Kempinski, the Hormuz Grand, the Intercontinental, the Crowne Plaza, the Grand Hyatt, the Shangri-La and the Al Bustan in Muscat, and the Anantara in Salalah and Al Jabal Al Akhdar - for work as chefs, food service assistants, receptionists and front office staff
112 employment opportunities with steel manufacturing company Hadid Majan, engineering firm Descon, and a joint venture between energy infrastructure services giant CB&I and engineering, procurement and construction concern CTCI, for trades such as electricians, scaffolders, pipefitters, welders and mechanics.
PDO also signed a MoU with the Oman Real Estate Association to upskill 300 real estate brokers so they can be officially certified and licensed by the Ministry of Housing, enabling them to hire more staff.
The training programmes will span 6-18 months, depending on the profession being pursued. Once the courses, a mixture of practice and theory, have been successfully completed they will be qualified to international standards.
The employment initiative was sealed at an official signing ceremony between the leading representatives of the participating organisations and PDO Managing Director Raoul Restucci at PDO’s Knowledge World Centre in Al Qurum.
Mr Restucci said: “Over the next three years, PDO will be actively targeting and supporting the creation of many thousands of job and training opportunities for Omani jobseekers, both in the oil and gas industry and beyond, as the Sultanate diversifies its economy.
“It is a national priority that young citizens can pursue rewarding work and careers when they leave education and we will be doing all we can with our partners, both in the Government and private industry to make sure that happens.
“We thank our valued partners for joining us in this initiative and pledging to employ those who successfully complete their training. Both public and private sectors need to work closely together to ensure the Omani economy develops and generates sufficient employment for its citizens.”
PDO has already signed similar job creation agreements with other non-oil sectors including the aviation, automotive, fashion and digital media industries as part of its National Objectives programme to boost employment opportunities for Omanis.
The Company has also actively participated in Tanfeedh - the National Programme for Enhancing Economic Diversification – by supporting workshops and initiatives on tourism, labour, logistics and manufacturing.
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Note to editors: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is the major exploration and production company in the Sultanate. It accounts for about 70% of the country's crude-oil production and nearly all of its natural-gas supply. The Company is owned by the Government of Oman (which has a 60% interest), the Shell Group (which has a 34% interest), Total (which has a 4% interest) and Partex (which has a 2% interest). Gas fields and processing plants are operated by PDO exclusively on behalf of the Government.
For further information please contact the PDO External Affairs Directorate:
Karima Farid Al Shahaibi,
Media Relations Advisor,
Tel: 2467-7756