PDO supports training of 300 Omani women

Date

8/23/2016 1:02:32 AM

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat-

The Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) is supporting the training of 300 Omani women job seekers.

The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Fashion Apparels which will employ the school leavers on successful completion of a six-month course at its factory in the Salalah Free Zone, stated a press release. The garments firm has opened a new US$20mn production unit on the site and plans to export around 12mn goods a year. At its full capacity by 2018, it aims to employ 500 Omanis.

Under the terms of the pact, PDO is committed to sponsor the women through the tailoring training programme, which will include teaching them sewing machine techniques, English communication and computer skills. The company aims to extend its job creation efforts beyond the oil and gas industry to other sectors of the economy.

The agreement was signed by Suleiman al Mantheri, external affairs and communications manager, PDO and Harinder B S Lamba, executive director, Fashion Apparels at PDO's Knowledge World centre in Qurm. Raoul Restucci, managing director, PDO said, 'PDO is pleased to partner with Fashion Apparels on this vocational training programme which will provide hundreds of Omani women with jobs in the clothing industry. 'PDO is dedicated to supporting the sultanate's economy by expanding work opportunities for both Omani men and women so that they can create a sustainable future for themselves.

'This means we will be supporting more vocational training for nationals beyond our natural boundaries in the oil and gas industry to aid economic development and diversification in other sectors.' They will work on items for leading brands such as Walmart, Macy's and J C Penney. Hassan Khashoub, human resources manager, Fashion Apparels said, 'We are committed to developing young Omanis who have the right attitude to work. As the required skills are not available in Salalah, we are designing our own training programme in collaboration with PDO.

The programme will have a combination of technical and soft skills aimed at grooming youngsters to take up management position in the due course of time.' The tailoring course, which will include technical and on-the-job training, is being run by the Arabian Training Institute in Salalah. Mantheri said, 'We are now also committed to diversifying our support outside our core business to help the development and employment of Omanis in other economic sectors.

'Besides partnering with Fashion Apparels, PDO also recently signed an agreement with Oman Air to support the training of job seekers in a variety of cabin and ground staff positions, along with the upskilling of a further 100 existing Oman Air customer service staff. This approach underlines the central role that PDO plays to support His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said's aim of greater Omanisation and extending professional capacity and capability of Omanis.'

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