RABAT, 22 April 2016 – A new project, funded by the Government of Japan, will help vulnerable groups of people living in the Oriental region of Morocco, especially young people and women, develop a range of industrial skills by offering vocational training programmes.

The project, “Reducing economic vulnerability for increased stability through industrial skills development and business linkages”, is worth USD 790,000 and will be implemented in the course of the next 12 months.

It was officially launched today during an event in UNIDO’s Office in the capital, Rabat, in the presence of the Ambassador of Japan to Morocco, Tsuneo Kurokawa.

Larbi Bencheikh, Managing Director of the Vocational Training and Work Promotion Office (OFPPT), and Naima Sabri, Chief of the Studies Division at the Ministry of National Education’s Vocational Training Department, also attended the event.

“We look forward to contributing to the capacity-building of the Moroccan youth through training delivered thanks to this programme. We hope this will contribute to the development of various industries, including automotive manufacturing, upon which the Kingdom of Morocco focuses its efforts,” said Ambassador Kurokawa.

Larbi Bencheikh thanked the Government of Japan for its support, and said that his staff was looking forward to implementing this new joint initiative together with UNIDO.

“This project is the result of joint cooperation initiated by the Government of Japan, the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, and UNIDO,” said UNIDO Representative to Morocco Jaime Moll de Alba.

“We aim support the employment of women and young people and to stimulate local economic development in order to increase stability and reduce economic vulnerability within disadvantaged regions of the Kingdom. Our joint work will build upon existing training facilities and the technical expertise of industrial companies operating in employment-generating sectors.”