Fumio Iwai, the Japanese ambassador to the Kingdom, on Tuesday visited the Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute (SJAHI) in Jeddah. The ambassador was briefed on the progress made by the institute in training qualified Saudi nationals in the field of automobile technology and maintenance.
Salim Hassan Alasmari, executive director of SJAHI, presented an overview of the institute, introducing its team of Japanese experts and faculty members.
The ambassador toured the classrooms, trainers’ hall, student training buildings, and various workshops to ensure an appropriate educational environment is offered to students at the center. Iwai described the institute as “a symbol of the friendship between Saudi Arabia and Japan.” He said SJAHI is one of the joint projects between the two friendly countries to develop Saudi youth in the automotive industry and highlighted the relationship between the two nations in all other fields. Managed by a professionally accredited team, SJAHI has the supervision, support and patronage of the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan Automobile Manufacturers’ Association Inc. (JAMA) and Japanese Automobile Distributors in the Kingdom (JADIK). SJAHI provides job-oriented technical training for young Saudi high school graduates having a zest for the automobile technology and maintenance field with a distinct perspective in Japanese automobiles.
The training cost at SJAHI is being borne by JADIK and Human Resources Development Fund.
The automobile sector in the Kingdom is growing at a fast pace and requires constant updates of technology and skills, both in terms of technical know-how as well as practical competency. Despite the growing number of Saudi youth graduating from Saudi universities, institutes and schools, the private sector, particularly the automobile sector, has a shortage of skilled and competent Saudi expertise, which does not meet the current sophisticated needs of the automobile industry.
Tapping on this unexplored pool became a reality when JADIK members contacted JAMA suggesting the idea of establishing an institute or academy to develop the skills of the Saudi youth in the domains of automobile technology and maintenance.
During the visit of King Abdullah to Japan in 1998, when he was the crown prince, delegates of both governments signed a memorandum of understanding that urged the creation of a task force in each country for the establishment of such an institute. SJAHI was officially inaugurated on March 19, 2003.
