Riyadh Technical School graduates with Riyadh Gov. Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz at the graduation ceremony on Monday.

The state-owned Riyadh Technical College (RTC) under the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) celebrated on Monday the graduation of its 2,000 students and trainees in various technical disciplines, including petrochemical technology, aircraft industry, airport maintenance, petroleum and advanced technology, water and energy as part of TVTC’s ambitions plan to cope with Saudi market needs.

The high-profile event was attended by Riyadh Gov. Prince Turki bin Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz as the chief guest, who inaugurated the 21st job fair held during the ceremony at the RTC’s premises.

This year’s batch of graduates and trainees will be able to land jobs with various national companies and organizations, which are offering 3,500 job opportunities for graduates on the occasion.

In his speech, Prince Turki said that the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is committed to providing world-class education and training to Saudi men and women so they will be eligible to take part in the development of their country.

“I am pleased to be with you to celebrate the graduation of a new batch of citizens who have been trained and qualified in various disciplines, both technical and professional, to participate in the development programs by working in various government and private sectors,” Prince Turki said.

He added: “This blessed occasion comes as part of the King’s efforts to provide training and rehabilitation to the sons and daughters of the country and help in meeting the needs of the labor market both in the public and private sectors.”

Prince Turki said the training sector in Saudi Arabia, represented by TVTC, is now witnessing a qualitative development phase aimed at bridging the technology gap by creating strategic partnerships with reputed international companies.

This would contribute to a growth in employment opportunities and breadth in the areas of employment.

The governor also said that the private sector has an important role in providing employment opportunities for qualified national cadres and become a key partner in the national development.

The event was attended by TVTC Gov. Ali Al-Ghafees and his vice-governor and RTC Dean Abdulrahman Al-Ghanem and parents of the graduates during which students with top grades and those with special needs were honored.

Speaking on behalf of TVTC, Al-Ghafees said: “We are proud of this large number of graduates of technical colleges in our dear country, who have received technical and vocational training in the disciplines needed by the nation, and are proud of the size of the demand by sectors of employment for these graduates.”

He further said that their training programs are geared to the needs of the private sector as a strategic partner of the Kingdom in training and employment and that the TVTC has formed strategic partnerships in projects designed to expand trainings based on the technical needs of the Saudi job market.