Aqaba, Aug. 3 (Petra) — The Water and Irrigation Ministry and Youth
Ministry reviewed preparations Monday for a program to train national
workers for the National Carrier Project.

The review, in cooperation with the National Employment and Training
Company (NET), took place during a coordination meeting held at the
Aqaba National Vocational Training (ANVT) in Aqaba.

Water and Irrigation Minister Raed Abu Soud, Youth Minister Raed
Adwan and NET Director-General Brig. Gen. Anwar Khaldi attended the
meeting, where they discussed mechanisms for implementing the
program.

The program, funded by the U.S., aims to train Jordanian youth
according to the project’s technical requirements, boosting
employment opportunities and supplying the project with qualified
national talent.

Abu Soud said the National Carrier Project is not only a strategic
project to strengthen the kingdom’s water security but a genuine
opportunity to invest in Jordanian human capital by preparing
national workers with the technical skills needed to implement the
project to the highest international standards.

He stated that the ministry attaches importance to training Jordanian
youth and enabling them to benefit from job opportunities the project
will create, which he said will positively affect economic and social
development across Jordan’s governorates.

He described the program as a model of effective partnership between
government institutions, the private sector and international
partners, and he said it strengthens the readiness of national talent
to participate in major infrastructure projects.

Abu Saod praised the support provided by the U.S. government in
funding the program. He said the cooperation helps build sustainable
national capacity, raise the competitiveness of Jordan’s workforce
and support implementation of the National Carrier Project to the
highest standards of quality and efficiency.

Adwan, in turn, said the youth training program tied to National
Carrier Project job opportunities translates the royal vision on
youth empowerment and participation in national programs and
projects, and reflects the government’s commitment to implementing
its economic modernization vision by linking training to actual labor
market opportunities.

He said that the ministry views the National Carrier Project as a
strategic national project that offers an important opportunity to
develop national talent and prepare Jordanian youth to participate in
related career paths.

He added that the ministry is working to expand partnerships with
relevant national bodies and leverage youth centers and facilities
across governorates to reach as many young people as possible.

Adwan praised the partnership behind the training program, which he
said gives young Jordanians training and employment opportunities in
the water sector and technical and engineering professions linked to
the project, as well as broader prospects for the economic
empowerment of women and local communities.

Khaldi said the NET takes pride in its role in implementing the
training program by providing specialized training in line with the
highest professional standards, preparing qualified national cadres
who meet the project’s needs and boosting employment for Jordanian
youth.

The National Carrier Project is expected to create 4,000 jobs during
the construction phase, generating strong demand for specialized
technical trades including welding, pipefitting, scaffolding,
electrical work, rigging and mechanical installation, among other
essential trades needed to implement the project.

The program is launching in Aqaba to meet the project’s initial
workforce needs and will later expand to cover all of Jordan’s
governorates.

Its first phase targets training about 500 young men and women in
priority trades through competency-based training programs leading to
internationally accredited professional certifications, including
those from the American Welding Society (AWS) and other
certifications aligned with the project’s requirements.

Adoption of U.S. professional certification standards ensures young
people can gain technical skills to global standards, strengthening
their readiness for the labor market and building sustainable
expertise suited to major infrastructure projects.

The program will be implemented by specialized training providers,
including the NET Company and Gulf Company, with funding from the
U.S. government and in cooperation with national institutions and the
private sector, as part of efforts to build national technical
capacity and boost youth participation in strategic projects across
the kingdom.

//Petra// NQ