The Knowledge Economic City Al-Madinah (KEC) today (Tuesday, 1 April 2008) signed a Strategic partnership with Technical & Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC) to train Saudis by establishing specialized institutions in communication and information technology.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed between the two organizations at the Qasr Al-Sharq Hall of Jeddah Hilton. Eng. Tahir Bawazir, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KEC, signed on behalf of his company while Dr. Ali Bin Nasir Al-Geface, Governor of TVTC, signed for his company.

As per the MoU, KEC will work closely with TVTC to provide the best possible training to Saudis leading to placement in jobs in the field of Communication and Information Technology as well as knowledge-based industries. This will include vocational training for Saudi youth in the relevant fields.

An intensive and integrated cooperation and coordination between the two parties are imperative to achieve this goal.

TVTCGovernor Al-Geface expressed his pleasure on the signing of this MoU and announced that TVTC will participate in the construction of Communication and Information Technology Colleges, including lecture halls, auditoriums, labs, workshops and support services facilities such as cafeterias, playgrounds, and library in addition to information infrastructure and internet links.

He also hoped that KEC – by way of this MOU – will create jobs and economic opportunities for Saudi youth.

The MoU will promote Saudi technical and scientific innovation, which in turn, will assist in the provision of welfare and increased production. It will also build and improve local human resources which is key to Saudi youth joining the economic knowledge matrix in the future, he added.

Eng. Bawazir, CEO of KEC, said that this MOU will integrate and support knowledge- and training-based industries.

"The objective of this MoU is to establish specialized institutions in communication and information technology training – and knowledge industries in general within KEC. These educational complexes will help achieve objectives of knowledge industries sector in compliance with KEC's projected goals," he said.

He told reporters that KEC will allocate the land required to build the educational complexes that will accommodate up to 24,000 male and female students. "Master plans and architectural drawings for these projects will be prepared soon in full coordination with TVTC in addition to provision of the required infrastructure," he added.

KEC and TVTC will jointly manage these complexes in cooperation with local and international pioneer institutions and universities in each technical trade.

Sarry Shaaban, Public Relations Manger of KEC, explained that KEC aims at attracting students from all over the world to benefit from science and knowledge-based technologies.

"KEC will be a pioneer in advanced technical research centers and supporting research infrastructure including labs, affiliates of local and Islamic research centers in modern communications and its applications, IT industries and development of computer and multi-media applications with business administration colleges and institutions," he said.

About Knowledge Economic City Al Madinah (KEC):

The project is located at Al-Madinah, the home of the Prophet (pbuh) where the Holy Quran was compiled. The project has special significance for Muslims throughout the world because of its location.KEC Al Madinah is located approximately 5 KM to the east of Al Haram and 7 km from the airport.

KEC Madinah is one of four economic cities being developed in Saudi Arabia to boost regional development and provide employment for the country's growing population by focusing on Intellectual Property, Knowledge-Based Industries, Medical, Hospitality, Tourism and Multi-Media.

Knowledge Economic City is designed as a project that will position Saudi Arabia and young Saudi Arabian entrepreneurs as internationally respected leaders in knowledge based industries and aims to attract and develop talent from around the world. It will provide them with opportunities on a global scale while providing investors and entrepreneurs with infrastructure, opportunity, a unique pool of talent and the potential for a healthy return on investment.

More than 20,000 jobs and accommodation for about 150,000 people will be created by the project, which will have an aggregated investment of more than SR30 billion and take up to 12 years to complete. KEC will include the Taiba Technological and Economic Information Centre, an interactive museum on the Prophet's (pbuh) life as well as a centre for medical studies, biosciences and integrated medical services. www.madinahkec.com