Vision 2030 Requires a Qualification Shift in Saudi Workforce

Mercer Saudi Arabia CEO Mahmoud Ghazi | Asharq Al-Awsat
Mercer Saudi Arabia CEO Mahmoud Ghazi | Asharq Al-Awsat
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Vision 2030 Requires a Qualification Shift in Saudi Workforce

Mercer Saudi Arabia CEO Mahmoud Ghazi | Asharq Al-Awsat
Mercer Saudi Arabia CEO Mahmoud Ghazi | Asharq Al-Awsat

Global consultancy firms stress that initiatives, projects, and strategies recently announced by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman require that operating sectors in the Kingdom develop several key features.

Meeting under the arch of a national transformation plan, dubbed Vision 2030, projects like “The Line,” initiatives like the “Red Sea Project” and strategies like the “Riyadh Strategy,” demand Saudi industries start a new development phase for fundamental aspects such as human capital, performance assessment, and digital transformation.

It is vital that authorities in both public and private sectors seek to engage in the transformations needed to realize the Kingdom’s aspirations, Mercer Saudi Arabia CEO Mahmoud Ghazi told Asharq Al-Awsat.

According to Ghazi, the desired levels of administrative and operational change have also expanded under the new reality imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.

He recommended shifting focus to optimizing internal plans and strategies and setting clear goals that work in concert with the rapid changes needed help along with a transformation in the Saudi economy.

Ghazi also pointed out the importance of raising the efficiency of human capital to meet foreseeable changes at the level of plans in the Kingdom.

Training and qualification programs and courses for stepping up performance must be administered across all departments and even include boards of directors and technicians.

The Mercer CEO added that it is also necessary to measure performance and production standards in administrative work. This will help enhance the efficacy of motivation, reward, assessment, control, and progress.

Other than identifying and filling existing gaps, improved performance and quality control will help sectors become more flexible and adjust to the expected shift in administrative systems.

With Vision 2030 projects set to generate over two million jobs, Ghazi pointed out that Saudi Arabia will likely witness a boom in job opportunities requiring qualification and training.



China Says It May Speed up Rare Earths Application Approvals from EU

A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. Picture taken July 16, 2011. (Reuters)
A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. Picture taken July 16, 2011. (Reuters)
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China Says It May Speed up Rare Earths Application Approvals from EU

A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. Picture taken July 16, 2011. (Reuters)
A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. Picture taken July 16, 2011. (Reuters)

China is willing to accelerate the examination and approval of rare earth exports to European Union firms, its commerce ministry said on Saturday.

Price commitment consultations between China and the EU on Chinese-made electric vehicles exported to the EU have also entered a final stage but efforts from both sides are still needed, according to a statement on the Chinese commerce ministry's website.

The issues were discussed between Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic in Paris on Tuesday, according to the statement.

The comments mark progress on matters that have vexed China's relationship with the European Union over the past year.

Most recently, China's decision in April to suspend exports of a wide range of rare earths and related magnets has upended the supply chains central to automakers, aerospace manufacturers, semiconductor companies and military contractors around the world.

The ministry said China attached great importance to the EU's concerns and "was willing to establish a green channel for qualified applications to speed up the approval process."

Commerce Minister Wang during the meeting "expressed the hope that the EU will meet us halfway and take effective measures to facilitate, safeguard and promote compliant trade in high-tech products to China," according to the statement.

In April, the European Commission said the EU and China had also agreed to look into setting minimum prices of Chinese-made electric vehicles instead of tariffs imposed by the EU last year.

China's commerce ministry said the EU had also proposed exploring "new technical paths" relating to EVs, which the Chinese side was now evaluating.