By Al Russell.
Tripoli, 4 September:
A programme to train Libyan . . .[restrict]car mechanics is being launched by Toyota. The idea is to give young Libyans who have graduated from local technical institutes around the country the technical skills so that they can then go on to full-time employment with the Toyota dealer network in the country.
Training centres are to be set up in Tripoli, Benghazi and Misrata.
The first of the three-month courses will take place in Misrata in November and in the initial stage they will run twice yearly. Between 15 and 20 trainees are expected to join the Misrata classes in November. Thereafter there will be 20 in each course.
The choice of Misrata reflects the fact the programme is being run by Toyota Libya FZC (Free Zone Company), based in city’s free zone. Toyota Libya FZC is 100-percent owned by Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation. It says that as a member of Libyan society, it“ wishes to contribute to the “construction of a new Libya through the training programme”.
Trainees will be paid a monthly salary. Accommodation will also be provided as will transport and meals. As well as technical mechanical classes, the course includes training in English and in the use of computers.
Those who successfully complete the course with good grades will be offered employment at Toyota dealerships in Libya of which there are five, three in Tripoli and one each in Benghazi and Misrata. Those who show exceptional performance will be invited to attend Toyota’s Technical Training Course in Japan.
The initiative has been set up with the support of the Japanese Embassy in Tripoli.
Toyota operates similar training programmes in a number of other countries in the region, notably the the Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute (SJAHI) in Saudi Arabia. Since its inception nearly two thousand young Saudis have been trained by SJAHI and gone on to work with Toyota or other Japanese car dealers or set up businesses of their own. [/restrict]
