PHOTO
United Arab Emirates: Emirates Global Aluminium, the largest industrial company in the United Arab Emirates outside oil and gas, today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary Guinea Alumina Corporation has opened a $1 million vocational training centre to create opportunity for young Guineans.
The Advanced Automotive Training Centre, located in the town of Boké near GAC’s bauxite mining concession, will provide year-long courses in advanced light vehicle mechanics.
The project was equally funded by GAC and German development finance institution DEG - Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH, within the framework of the develoPPP programme financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Highly-capable mechanics are valuable employees in the local mining industry. Some graduates are expected to choose to start their own vehicle repair businesses, contributing to broader economic development and creating employment opportunities for others.
Moudatou Bah, a senior manager at GAC who ran the project, said: “GAC is an important part of the economy in this region. We want to drive further sustainable economic growth by supporting Guineanisation in our industry, increasing the proportion of goods and services we procure locally, and by helping develop young people to start their own successful businesses.
“I look forward to the day when a mechanic business started by a graduate of the Advanced Automotive Training Centre wins a competitive tender to supply GAC with vehicle repair services,” she added.
The Advanced Automotive Training Centre is just one project at GAC to enable people from local communities to develop their employment potential or to start their own revenue-generating small businesses.
Last year, rather than import COVID-19 prevention materials for distribution locally, GAC created capability to make them. The project was also co-financed as part of the develoPPP programme together with DEG.
GAC trained nearly 500 people from neighbouring communities in tailoring and basic fabrication, equipped workshops, and then ordered thousands of masks, soaps and handwashing kits to give to local communities. GAC is currently focused on further capacity building in professional tailoring and helping the tailors to develop new markets to supply, which could ultimately include uniforms for mining companies.
GAC operates a bauxite mine and export facility. Bauxite is the ore from which aluminium is derived.
The development of GAC was part of EGA’s strategic upstream expansion in the aluminium value chain. The project was one of the largest greenfield investments in the last 40 years and cost some $1.4 billion to develop.
GAC employs more than 2,700 people directly and as contractors, 94 per cent Guinean.
© Press Release 2021
Disclaimer: The contents of this press release was provided from an external third party provider. This website is not responsible for, and does not control, such external content. This content is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and has not been edited in any way. Neither this website nor our affiliates guarantee the accuracy of or endorse the views or opinions expressed in this press release.
The press release is provided for informational purposes only. The content does not provide tax, legal or investment advice or opinion regarding the suitability, value or profitability of any particular security, portfolio or investment strategy. Neither this website nor our affiliates shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies in the content, or for any actions taken by you in reliance thereon. You expressly agree that your use of the information within this article is at your sole risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, this website, its parent company, its subsidiaries, its affiliates and the respective shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, advertisers, content providers and licensors will not be liable (jointly or severally) to you for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, incidental, punitive or exemplary damages, including without limitation, lost profits, lost savings and lost revenues, whether in negligence, tort, contract or any other theory of liability, even if the parties have been advised of the possibility or could have foreseen any such damages.
