Saudi Arabia is seeking assistance from the private sector as it looks to tackle unemployment with new training and development initiatives.

Emirates Business reports that Ghazi Al Qusaibi, the Saudi labour minister last week told an assembled audience of newly employed Saudis in Jeddah, that the country would not rely on aid as a mechanism to lift people out of financial hardship.

"The only way to eliminate this problem is through training and rehabilitation of Saudis. Hard work will produce results, but it will be useless without a concerted effort by both the public and private sectors," he added.

Mr Al Qusaibi went on to state that the private sector will play a crucial role in tackling youth unemployment with training and development initiatives.

Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil firm and holder of the world's largest oil reserves, has maintained a longstanding Saudisation programme, designed to secure positions for nationals looking to enter the oil and gas industry.

Tenders for private sector firms operating in the country are often approved on condition that they comply with the programme.

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