Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) held a graduation ceremony for 366 Omani youth in the 21st edition of the Aid Program on Tuesday in Muscat. The event was attended by Sayyid Saud Hilal Al-Busaidi, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth of Oman, and reflects the company's commitment to developing the skills of Omani youth and increasing job opportunities in the labor market.
Aid Program and Its Objectives
The Aid Program was designed in collaboration with Petroleum Development Oman and the Oman Energy Association (OPAL), with the participation of several private sector contracting companies. The aim of this program is to strengthen national capabilities and enhance local values in Oman’s energy sector. It is designed to provide a combination of theoretical training and practical experiences for participants to prepare them for entering the job market.
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Comments from the PDO CEO
Dr. Afalah Said Al-Hadri, General Director of Petroleum Development Oman, said: "At PDO, we believe that investing in people is investing in the future of Oman. Our youth, with their aspirations and capabilities, are the cornerstone of this future. We have a responsibility to provide opportunities that enhance their skills, enrich their experiences, and help them build successful careers."
Dr. Al-Hadri also explained that this program is part of a comprehensive system for local values at Petroleum Development Oman, which includes empowering and employing Omani talents, supporting small and medium enterprises, and localizing domestic industries. According to statistics, in the past ten years, the direct economic value generated by the company's local value program has exceeded 7 billion Omani Rials and has created over 17,500 job opportunities for Omanis.
Specialized Tracks of the Aid Program
This edition of the Aid Program included several specialized fields required in Oman’s energy sector. These fields include professional training programs for Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) specialists, engineering planning training programs, lifting equipment inspection programs, practical training programs with contracting partners, professional internship programs, drilling fluid engineers programs, explosion protection equipment inspectors programs, electrical technicians programs, and mobile crane operators programs.
These investments in the training and development of Omani youth represent a milestone in Oman’s economic and social progress and serve as a model for other sectors in the country.
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