Latest news with #VocationalTraining
Morocco World
28-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco's APNI Partners with Côte d'Ivoire to Transform Agricultural Education
Rabat — The African Plant Nutrition Institute (APNI), a Moroccan non-profit research and development organization based in Benguerir, has forged a new partnership with Côte d'Ivoire's Ministry of Technical Education, Vocational Training, and Apprenticeship to revolutionize agricultural education and boost food security across the West African country. Kaushik Majumdar, APNI's Director General, signed the agreement on Monday with Minister N'Guessan Koffi and Deputy Cabinet Director N'Goran Kouakou Jean-Arnaud in Côte d'Ivoire's political capital. The collaboration aims to modernize agricultural education and create lasting improvements for rural communities throughout the African country. Officials from both organizations believe the partnership will help address food shortages while creating new opportunities for young farmers. 'With APNI, we are starting a real agricultural revolution,' Minister Koffi said during the signing ceremony. 'Time for the results to be seen on the field. Together, let's fight food shortages by cultivating all year round. This partnership makes it possible.' Comprehensive agricultural training program The partnership will focus on several key areas to transform agricultural education in Côte d'Ivoire. APNI will provide technical support to agricultural vocational high schools, technical high schools, and farm field schools under the ministry's oversight. The Moroccan research organization will also help revise existing curricula and develop new educational programs. Officials plan to organize specialized workshops on plant nutrition and create educational modules that align with updated curriculum standards. Youth training sits at the heart of their strategy, Majumdar stressed, explaining that the partnership will focus on 'training of the youth to build capacity for entrepreneurship in modernizing agriculture and service delivery to farmers.' Read also: African Plant Nutrition Institute Funds Four Agricultural Research Projects The APNI director general outlined how the collaboration will support farmers in adopting 'digital and advanced technologies for enhanced crop productivity and access to markets.' He pointed out the importance of applying best practices in crop management, including seed selection, water management, nutrient application, and pest control. Addressing rural challenges Minister Koffi envisions the partnership creating prosperous rural communities with less demanding agricultural work and increased income opportunities. Officials believe these improvements will help reduce poverty and slow rural migration to urban areas. Majumdar stressed that the partnership will focus on 'bringing entrepreneurial opportunities through enhanced value chains' as a key strategy for transformational change in the agricultural sector. The collaboration comes as Côte d'Ivoire seeks to modernize its agricultural practices and improve food security. Officials hope the partnership will help farmers adapt to climate change while increasing land productivity and farm profitability. Through this new partnership with Côte d'Ivoire's technical education ministry, APNI hopes to contribute to the country's vision of creating prosperous rural communities through modern agricultural technologies and digital transformation. Tags: Agricultural educationAPNICote d'IvoireMorocco
Arab News
20-05-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Saudi program to train rural women in leathercraft
RIYADH: The Sustainable Agricultural Rural Development Program, known as Saudi Reef, has launched its first vocational empowerment training in leather industries for rural women in Al-Kharj governorate. The program aims to promote entrepreneurship and support the national economy in line with Vision 2030 goals, the Saudi Press Agency reported. It provides rural women with practical skills in leather manufacturing to help develop their small businesses and improve the marketing of their products. Majed Al-Buraikan, Saudi Reef assistant secretary-general for media and communication, said 15 rural women are participating in the training, which covers value-added leather production, design, product diversification, quality control, and business management. The program includes training in business planning, cost management, marketing, and branding to help participants establish viable ventures, according to SPA. Recently, the UN World Tourism Organization recognized Saudi Reef's role in supporting sustainable development through its link with rural tourism. Basmah Al-Mayman, UNWTO Middle East director, in a letter to Saudi Reef Secretary-General Ghassan Bakri commended the program for organizing rural tourism events in various regions of the Kingdom. UNWTO expressed interest in collaborating with Saudi Reef on initiatives focused on sustainable community development and rural tourism.
Morocco World
11-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Mauritania Seeks to Benefit from Morocco's Vocational Training Expertise
Rabat — Mauritanian Minister of Vocational Training, Traditional Industry and Crafts, Mohamed Maalainine Ould Eyih, confirmed on Saturday in Nouakchott that his country wants to gain greater benefits from Morocco's experience in job training. He gave his remarks during the Mauritanian-Moroccan Parliamentary Economic Forum, which kicked off on Friday in Nouakchott. The Mauritanian minister explained that his country particularly wants to benefit from Morocco's experience in creating training cities to focus on particular professions and competencies, delegated management of vocational training institutions, and curriculum development. 'We have close cooperation with Morocco's vocational training sector to benefit from their experience to save time,' he said. Ould Eyih further noted that this partnership will accelerate the establishment of high-quality vocational training institutions in Mauritania, pointing to one that is currently under construction in Nouakchott as an example. Morocco's Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion will provide expertise for 'major project,' which he added was inspired by Morocco's profession and skills training cities. Work has already begun with Moroccan partners to develop programs and implement training for Mauritanian instructors in the North African country. The ongoing cooperation with Morocco also includes creating a National Agency for Education and Vocational Training that will integrate all existing vocational training institutions in Mauritania, following Morocco's model. Read also: Morocco, Mauritania Build Economic Partnership Amid Regional Challenges The Mauritanian minister expressed his country's desire to benefit from the North African country's successful experience in delegated management of vocational training institutions, especially as Mauritania prepares to establish a school focused on oil and gas training. He spoke of Morocco's recent economic successes across various sectors, including attracting global aviation companies thanks to well-trained personnel. The minister stressed the importance of existing cooperation in these realms, particularly in traditional crafts. On the second and final day of the forum, participants discussed vocational training and employability issues in both countries. The summit, co-chaired by Moroccan House of Representatives President Rachid Talbi Alami and Mauritanian National Assembly President Mohamed Bamba Meguett, brought together parliamentarians, ministers, sector officials, and business leaders from both countries. Tags: MauritaniaMorocco Mauritania RelationsMorocco vocational training
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Uniqlo Sets Up Sewing, Retail Training Skills Center In India
Uniqlo is taking on a bigger presence in India, this time with a job vocational training center to empower underprivileged youth. The three-year program—Job-Oriented Vocational Training Centre—is designed to provide young job seekers with sewing machine and retail training skills, as well as life skills such as financial literacy. It targets young adults between ages 18 and 29 from economically disadvantaged households. The Saksham Centre in Dwarka, Delhi, will host the program, which is in collaboration with Plan International and a donation of 120 million Japanese Yen from Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing Co. Ltd. More from Sourcing Journal India Brands Embrace Canopy Levi's Names Diljit Dosanjh Brand Ambassador Maersk Places $5 Billion Bet on India's Port and Shipbuilding Boom 'Inspired by our LifeWear philosophy of making everyone's life better, we hope this skill centre project will have a life-changing, positive impact for thousands of young Indian people. It is fundamental for UNIQLO that, in every country and region that we operate, we always contribute to the society, and this new project reaffirms our long-term commitment to the Indian community,' Uniqlo India's CFO and chief operating officer Kenji Inoue said. 'Education is an integral part of individual and societal development and, working with Plan International, we look forward to providing opportunities to empower young people.' Plan International's India Chapter executive director Mohammed Asif said that the program will provide young women and men with market-oriented skills so they can become 'active contributors to nation building.' Uniqlo India operates 15 retail stores and is looking to expand its store presence. Its first store in New Delhi opened in 2019. Most of the store locations are in New Delhi. The retailer opened its first Mumbai store in 2023. The brand sources some of its product locally, although T-shirts and its Heattech apparel that are manufactured in India are exported to its global store network. The brand is also considering retail internships at its stores for those who train at the Saksham Centre. Uniqlo in January agreed to stop using gig economy apps, such as Tempur and YoungOnes, to hire temporary store-based workers. The U.K. Trades Union Congress at the time asked some retailers—the retailers, including Uniqlo, are believed to have used the apps only briefly for the holiday selling season—to stop the practice due to concerns that freelancers hired through the apps weren't getting basic employment rights. When Fast Retailing posted first-quarter profits in January, the company said Uniqlo's businesses saw 'favorable' expansion in Southeast Asia, India & Australia, North America and Europe. The focus of store openings has been across North America and Europe. Fast Retailing in October 2023 detailed plans on how it would step up new store openings.
