Limak's continued commitment to empower Kuwaiti youth

• The KIA T2 contractor has trained over 130 young and aspiring Kuwaiti nationals, covering over 35,000 training hours
  
  
• Limak is set to kick off the second edition of its youth empowerment program with KFAED in April 2021, and is cooperating with the Ministry of Youth Affairs to support Kuwait National Employment 

Kuwait: On April 1st, Limak will kick off the second edition of its latest youth empowerment program in Kuwait with the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development’s (KFAED) Training Program for Kuwaiti Newly Graduated Engineers and Architects. Commenced in 2018, the program is part of Limak’s greater regional efforts to educate and empower the young and aspiring professionals with training opportunities that enhance professional development and encourage enrollment in the private sector. 

Limak’s youth development efforts reflect the company’s strong support of Kuwait’s National Development Plan and Vision 2035, “New Kuwait”, which aims to transform the country into a leading financial, commercial and cultural hub where the private sector leads the economy and promotes production efficiency. The KIA T2 contractor has trained over 130 Kuwaiti young and aspiring nationals covering over 35,000 training hours since starting operations in Kuwait in 2015, and currently employs 40 nationals on-site at the New Kuwait International Airport - Terminal 2 (T2) project. In addition to the company’s current training and empowerment programs, Limak will be cooperating with the Ministry of Youth Affairs in the effort to support Kuwait National Employment.

Mr. Kayihan Bagdatli, Limak Inşaat Kuwait S.P.C. Country Manager said: “Limak believes in investing in youth empowerment.  Currently employing over 40 Kuwaiti engineers on-site at T2, we are not only committed to involving Kuwaiti engineers in this landmark project but are committed to investing in the training of these engineers so they can directly contribute to their country’s future. Our support for local engineers is part of the company’s greater efforts to add permanent value to society by supporting educational and learning opportunities in the fields of construction, engineering, architecture, and project management.

“Through the KFAED training program and the many others we invest in, our objective is to transform the youth into qualified individuals prepared to create a positive, long-lasting impact on the world. We thank Kuwait University, KFAS, SACGC, KFAED, the Kuwait Ministry of Youth Affairs, and our other partners in the country for entrusting us with the responsibility to equip Kuwaiti nationals with the skills necessary to build a Kuwait that not only meets New Kuwait's vision for 2035, but exceeds it.” 

Limak’s current ongoing youth empowerment programs in the country include the “Kuwait’s Engineer Girls'' program, a joint venture between Kuwait University, Turkey’s Boğaziçi University and Limak and the Training Program for Kuwaiti Newly Graduated Engineers and Architects by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED). While the company’s efforts with the Kuwait Ministry of Youth Affairs in support of national employment is expected to kick off this year. 

The Kuwait’s Engineer Girls (KEG) Program

The KEG program aims to encourage young female engineers to enter the private sector by providing them with the tools necessary to compete and succeed in their future careers. Kicked off in March 2018, 90 graduates have successfully completed the program under three different cohorts. 

Training Program for Kuwaiti Newly Graduated Engineers and Architects by KFAED

The KFAED training program is a three-phased 13-month program that aims to equip fresh Kuwaiti graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the local market's needs, specifically the private sector. Under the agreement, Limak will cooperate on Phase II of the program and train fresh Kuwaiti graduates in industrial engineering, civil engineering, and architecture roles. The first edition was completed in 2018 and included hands-on training at the company’s projects in Turkey, and the second batch of graduates are expected to start their on-the-job training on April 1st at the T2 project in Kuwait.

Ongoing Training for Kuwaiti Staff During COVID-19

Limak will continue to educate and hire nationals despite the restrictions enforced by the pandemic and will continue to operate in full compliance with regulations set by the Ministry of Health and other official government bodies in Kuwait. The company continues to successfully carry out its projects in Kuwait while preserving its employees' health and the fruitful experience of its trainees. Additional preventive safety precautions are implemented on-site and at the offices, facilities, and support centers, all of which undergo daily monitoring and compliance checks in accordance with the directions of the Limak Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) team.

About Limak Holding

Based in Ankara, Turkey, Limak Holding is one of the leading conglomerates in Turkey. The company was founded in 1976 and operates in over 17 countries with more than 80,000 employees across various sectors including tourism, cement, energy, infrastructure, airport management and operations, port management, food, and aviation. Limak is listed on the ”Top 250 International Contractors” 2020 list published by Engineering News-Record and is recognized as one of the three fastest-growing construction companies in the world by International Construction Industry Magazine.

About Limak İnşaat Kuwait S.P.C.:

Established in 2016 through the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority under the Foreign Direct Investment Law, Limak İnşaat Kuwait S.P.C. is an independent subsidiary of Limak Holding, one of the leading conglomerates in Turkey and the world.

In Kuwait, Limak’s completed projects include 5201 West Abdullah Al-Mubarak Infrastructure Works (2015-2017) and South Abdullah Al-Mubarak Infrastructure Works (2018-2020). Projects in progress include the Infectious Disease Hospital, Kuwait International Airport New Terminal II targeted to receive LEED Gold certification in addition to Package No. 2, and the Al-Mutlaa Residential project (N11).

As a local industry leader and pioneer in the field of sustainability, Limak sponsors and participates in a variety of events, seminars, and workshops to encourage sustainable environmental practices in the workplace and promote the use of waste management techniques in Kuwait. This stems from the company’s worldwide effort to raise awareness on sustainable construction as a national priority, and promote the company’s view that a collaborative effort by the industry and government is needed to encourage the adoption of green technology and sustainable innovation.

Other environmental activities undertaken by Limak include the first edition of Kuwait’s “Green and Clean Conference and Exhibition” held in October 2018. Limak participated in this initiative as an exhibitor and panelist. In addition to Limak's commitment towards raising awareness of environmental sustainability, the company launched the "Kuwait’s Engineer Girls" program in 2018, focused on empowering and supporting women in the engineering field. Through this program, Limak promotes environmental sustainability by offering seminars and workshops on clean energy and waste management to female students in Kuwait, in addition to 200-hours of additional construction and project-related material. To date, 90 graduates have successfully completed the program under three different cohorts.

Reporters may contact

Yasmeen Alsaleh | Bensirri PR | yasmeen@bensirri.com | +965 96052452

© Press Release 2021