Qatar-based Silatech has partnered with Microsoft to launch MasrWorks.com, an online employability portal for Egypt that supports workforce development for the country's youth.

MasrWorks is available in both Arabic and English, and provides resources ranging from online career guidance, employability and entrepreneurship training, to specific work experience and job opportunities.

MasrWorks represents the first stage of a collaboration between Microsoft and Silatech, and is the pilot for the upcoming launch of an online regional employability portal.

The expansion of the portal into other countries is part of a greater Arab youth employability initiative for the region.

Microsoft and Silatech have also joined forces to collaborate on other programs, supporting the mutual objectives of both organizations to harness technology in support of regional workforce development and youth employability.

Jo Aggarwal, the director of counseling and placement services from Silatech, said, "We need to give the youth of tomorrow the best opportunities, as they are the ones who will help shape the transformation of Egypt and the Arab World."

"We also see MasrWorks as a means to encourage job creation in a number of ways, such as empowering entrepreneurs and small and medium businesses to reach new markets and employ new talent," he stated.

Ayman Abdellatif, General Manager, Microsoft Egypt said the recent events have encouraged young people across the Arab World to demand change and a future filled with more jobs, opportunities and hope.

"MasrWorks was developed to respond to this call, in collaboration with partners and social enterprise organizations which have a long-standing dedication towards supporting youth employability," he added.

The unemployment rate in Egypt has risen to 12.4 per cent in January 2012, up from 8.9 per cent a year earlier , and 90 per cent of the country’s unemployed are under 30.

According to him, the MasrWorks helps support the youth who were the driving force behind the revolution, and supports workforce development.

"The website provides career planning resources that can help visitors identify what kind of career path they want to follow, and offers extensive training options for different skills, customized to specific target groups and jobs," he added.

The key features of the website are career guidance tools, arabic content, job matching, extensive training options, mentoring and volunteering matching and social media integration.

"Since beginning operations in late 2009, through its programs and partnerships Silatech has created approximately 25,000 jobs for young people throughout the Arab world," said Aggarwal.

In Qatar, Silatech has partnered with Qatar Development Bank to establish the Bedaya Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Development.-TradeArabia News Service