PDO celebrates graduation of 420 sponsored Omani trainees

Muscat: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) held a ceremony for 420 young Omani graduates of the company-sponsored training scheme, who will now take up full-time employment.
A celebration event was held at Muscat’s Grand Millennium Hotel to honour their success under the auspices of the Minister of Oil and Gas, Dr Mohammed Al Rumhy.
The job-seekers have qualified to work in a wide variety of trades, including as construction supervisors, welders, safety officers, electricians, scaffolders, pipe fitters, mechanics, metal sheet fabricators, heavy goods vehicle drivers and occupational health and safety technicians.
The trainees were the seventh batch to graduate from PDO’s National Objectives programme, which has created around 30,000 jobs, training and redeployment opportunities for Omanis since it was launched in 2011.
The company is targeting the creation of 50,000 such opportunities in the next three years in close consultation with the National Training Fund and has been actively working with partners beyond its natural boundaries, including aviation, real estate, fashion and hospitality as part of the ongoing effort to diversify the Sultanate’s economy.
PDO External Affairs and Value Creation Director Abdul-Amir Abdul-Hussein Al Ajmi said: “This is another landmark moment for our National Objectives programme and our ongoing commitment to generate employment opportunities across the entire economy.”
“I congratulate all those young people who have shown commitment and diligence to succeed in their training so that they can now go on to build rewarding careers and contribute to Oman’s future success.”
“I would also like to thank all our partners, including the Ministry of Oil and Gas and Ministry of Manpower, our contractors and all those involved in the training programmes for supporting this noble cause,” Al Ajmi stated.
“The success of these young people once again shows that, despite the low oil price environment, PDO is determined to stay the course on its key priorities, not least developing Omani talent, diversifying the economy and driving employment.”
The graduates underwent training lasting up to 18 months with the National Training Institute, the Institute of Technical Training Services, the Technical and Administrative Training Institute and the Dalma Training Institute.
They will work with 24 PDO contractors, both in the oil and gas sector and other industries, including Bahwan Engineering Company, Drake & Scull, Adhi Oman, Arabian Supply and Contractors, Power Tech, Al Turki Enterprises, Mud Industries, Oman Fibre Optic, Techno Gear Industries and Najed Al Ahliya.
Al Ajmi further said: “Our National Objectives programme is based on training jobseekers for skilled positions with low Omanisation levels, but a high industry demand, so that they can forge good careers in their chosen area, and work either in the Sultanate or abroad.”
For future batches, PDO will be launching an award for the best trainee, best trainee employer and best training institute to further recognise and motivate those participating in the programme.