Emirates Steel, the largest integrated steel producer in the UAE, said it has recruited 15 new graduates from Vocational Education Development Centre (VEDC) for operational positions in its plant located in Mussafah.

VEDC is a leading provider of integrated curricula for academic and vocational studies in Abu Dhabi and a special project under the umbrella of the Institute of Applied Technology (IAT).

Emirates Steel, a subsidiary of General Holding Corporation (GHC), said VEDC had signed a MoU in May thus establishing a clear framework for a strategic partnership to provide career opportunities for Emirati students pursuing their studies at the centre.

The new national employees, who started working at Emirates Steel’s industrial facilities in the first week of August, have already completed a Work Placement Program (WPP) at the company as part of their studies, it said.

With these 15 nationals added to the workforce Emirates Steel is now one step closer to achieving its target of nationalizing nearly 30 per cent of its workforce by the end of 2010.

At present, 28 per cent are nationals and this figure is expected to go up to 50 per cent by the end of 2013, said GHC's director general Suhail M. Al Ameri.

'Emirates Steel was committed to develop and strengthen the Emirati workforce and realize Vision 2030’s ambitious Emiratization strategy,' he stated.

'Today, we are taking major strides in that direction. Our strategy is to empower the future generations of UAE nationals with the ability to develop their industrial expertise,” he added.

Hussein Al Hammadi, chairman of IAT's board of trustees, pointed out that “VEDC graduates are a source of pride and one of the major contributors to the success and development of our national economy and society.”

He pointed out that technical education was considered to be one of the main pillars of the country’s sound economy.

Emirates Steel’s VP of Administration Support Mahmood Al Hameli, said the company was determined to create new work opportunities for qualified and experienced UAE nationals to meet the demands of the country’s growing industrial sector.

'This is our promise to the future industrial pioneers of our nation,' he added.-TradeArabia News Service