Abu Dhabi-based healthcare conglomerate VPS Healthcare will train 1,000 youth by the end of 2017 as part of the new initiative launched at the World Economic Forum on Mena, recently held at Jordan.

With more than half of its population under 25 years of age and the world’s highest regional youth unemployment rate, the Mena region faces critical challenges. High unemployment, particularly among the young, female and the educated parts of the population, is considered by many to be the most important socio-economic challenge currently facing the region.

Nine founding partners from across the region, including VPS Healthcare, Abdul Latif Jameel, Alghanim Industries, Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), Crescent Enterprises, Crescent Petroleum, Jumeirah Group, Olayan Financing Company and Zain Group have committed to scaling their corporate initiatives or undertaking new initiatives aimed at closing the skills gap in the region.

Collectively, such initiatives are poised to offer skilling opportunities to 49,000 people.

VPS Healthcare aims to train 1,000 young people of the region for job readiness by 2017 and will also focus on Emiratisation to boost Arab employment.

“I am extremely proud to be a part of this initiative focusing on curbing the unemployment prevalent in the region. We would focus on equipping the youth with relevant skills to fill that vital gap in the region as well as train them about the spirit of entrepreneurship,” said Rajesh Verma, director – Human Resource, VPS Healthcare.

Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, managing director, VPS Healthcare, said: “Partnership between the Public and Private sector is what will boost the human capital flow in rural areas in future and will provide the best of healthcare services and highest quality of care all across the region.”

The initiative is poised to track progress on existing commitments and create strategic cooperation between public and private sectors to make further relevant skilling and training interventions. At the same time, the Regional Business Council has launched a ‘Call to Action’ to other business leaders, governments and organizations to join this collaborative effort to maximize impact.

“We have decided to start with training 1,000 youth currently but the numbers will increase gradually and we will do everything at our end to support this initiative in the best possible manner,” said Dr Shamsheer. – TradeArabia News Service