His Excellency the Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Mr. Bandar bin Ibrahim Al-Kharif, patronized today at the ministry headquarters the graduation ceremony of the second batch of the Young Graduates Development Program (YGP), which aims to build young national competencies in the industry and mining system, and develop their skills according to the latest global practices.

In a speech during the ceremony, His Excellency explained that the program contributes to building and developing youth competencies to lead the future of the industry and mining sectors, and contributes to maximizing their impact on the path of diversifying the national economy, in light of the economic transformation that the Kingdom is witnessing.

He said: "With the support and empowerment of our wise leadership - may God support them - we seek through this program to achieve one of the most important objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, which is developing human capabilities, and for the Saudi citizen to become globally competitive, through equipping them with high skills and diverse knowledge that enable them to deal with advanced technologies and stay informed of the latest global trends and practices." Al-Kharif emphasized that the program was designed to be a mix of learning, excitement, and exposure to global experiences, in partnership with prominent local and international institutions, in addition to the program's activities ranging between academic scientific units and practical training; with the aim of equipping trainees with modern skills that increase their efficiency and ability to respond to rapid global changes in sectors related to industry and mining and dealing with them. His Excellency also addressed a message to the graduates, pointing out that their graduation represents a launching point in their journey as partners in achieving the goals of the industry and mining system and the national strategies related to the two sectors, in addition to facilitating the investors' journey and supporting the growth and expansion of their projects, thereby achieving sustainable development in the industry and mining sectors.

The Young Graduates Development Program (YGP) concluded its second edition after a journey that lasted (12) months, which included theoretical training units and practical applications within entities of the industry and mining system, in addition to training programs in specialized global centers outside the Kingdom. The program included various scientific and practical programs in three tracks: Industry, Mining, and Empowerment, in cooperation with a group of specialized global entities, including Cranfield University in Britain, the University of Queensland in Australia, and the Silicon Valley Innovation Center, in addition to a number of leading local educational institutes, including Irtiyad Training Institute and Bakkah Training Institute. The program is considered one of the most prominent qualitative programs in human capabilities development, as it equips trainees with high skills that align with the needs of the industrial and mining sectors, thereby raising their efficiency and enhancing their contribution to diversifying the economic base of the Kingdom.