Almarai's 2024 Initiative: Partnering To Train Saudi Youth For Employment

Almarai Company, a leading name in the food and beverage industry, has recently underscored its commitment to nationalization with its annual Nationalization Ceremony 2024, held on Sunday, May 26, 2024. The event, themed "Nationalization as a Strategic Goal," marked a significant step towards integrating more Saudi nationals into the workforce, in line with Saudi Arabia's broader economic and social goals.

The ceremony was notable for the signing of multiple agreements with prestigious institutions such as Hail University, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, the Authority for the Care of Persons with Disabilities, Saudi Logistics Academy, Food Industries Institute, and the Ikhaa Charity Association for Orphans Care. These partnerships are aimed at qualifying and training Saudi youth, thereby facilitating their entry into the labor market, particularly in the food and beverage sector.

Attended by Mr. Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Bader, CEO of Almarai, alongside leaders from the collaborating entities, the event also saw participation from Almarai's executive management and sector directors. Al-Bader highlighted the company's strategic focus on nationalization, pointing out that Almarai is among Saudi Arabia's largest employers, with a workforce comprising approximately 10,000 Saudi nationals, including over 800 women and more than 500 individuals with special needs.

Al-Bader further shared insights into Almarai's five-year investment plan (2024–2028), which envisages an investment increase of over 18 billion riyals. This initiative is not only expected to bolster the Kingdom's food security but also to underline the importance of human capital development in achieving these strategic objectives. He emphasized the crucial role of the nation's youth, noted for their passion and capabilities, in the success of these plans.

Almarai's achievements in the Nitaqat program, where it attained platinum and high green levels for nationalizing private sector jobs, were also highlighted during the ceremony. With an integrated system of initiatives and training programs that delivered over half a million training hours in 2023, Almarai has successfully managed to maintain an employee retention rate of 90%.

Mr. Fahd bin Mohammed Al-Drees, Chief Human Resources Officer at Almarai, reviewed the success of the company's Nationalization programs. He stressed the importance of coordination with all partners to build and develop a comprehensive system of qualitative training and qualification initiatives. These efforts are directed towards equipping various company sectors and departments with qualified national cadres, aligning with the strategic goal of nationalization.

Almarai's proactive approach to nationalization, through strategic partnerships and significant investment in training and development, reflects its dedication to contributing to Saudi Arabia's economic diversification and the empowerment of its workforce. The company's focus on integrating Saudi nationals into its workforce not only supports the Kingdom's vision for the future but also sets a standard for corporate contribution to national development goals.