PIF and the Palestine Engineers Association Jerusalem Center signed an MoU for a training(internship) program for a number of graduate engineers in the areas of Electric Engineering-Renewable Energy, and Civil Engineering- Management of establishments. The program will start at PIF Massader Company with the aim of training the graduates in relevant projects and programs, allowing them to acquire technical expertise and practical skills.

The ceremony was attended by Dr. Mohammad Mustafa, Chairman of PIF, Fadi Dweik, General Manager of PIF, Lana Abu Hijleh Chairman of Amaar Real Estate Group, Azem Bishare, CEO of Massader. The Engineers’ Association as represented by the Chairman Dr. Jalal Dabeek, the treasurer Engineer Musa Qdeimat, Director Deneral Engineer Nadi Alayyan, and training manager Engineer Ma’moun Abu Rayyan.

The MOU comes as a result of PIF’s strategy based on cooperation and complementarity with the Palestinian private sector, enhancing of skills and knowledge among university graduates, and sharing PIF’s experience with Palestinian youth by introducing them to PIF’s programs and projects. It comes also in the framework of the efforts to upgrade new graduates skills and provide them with practical experience by integrating them in the work processes of several programs and projects related to their specializations.

Dr. Mohammad Mustafa said: “ PIF is proud of our Palestinian expertise that succeeded in implementing and managing our investment programs and projects, particularly in new sectors such as renewable energy. The transfer of knowledge and international expertise to Palestine have been part of our objectives under this sector. We pride ourselves over the implementation of promising projects that are the largest in Palestine such as Noor Jericho and Noor Jenin Solar plants at high production rates. Highly qualified Palestinian engineers, technicians, and staff were able to implement these projects and refine their knowledge of the state-of-art models from around the world. Today, we are trying to complete this cycle by transferring the knowledge and expertise to our graduates, to help them overcome market challenges and allow them to contribute towards the success of upcoming projects that serve our people and country.”

Dr. Mustafa added: “we are happy with this cooperation with the Engineers’ Association-Jerusalem Center. We hope to expand this cooperation to include other specializations for the benefit of the graduates. Noteworthy, PIF leads an investment program that involves 60 projects in Palestine covering various economic sectors such as traditional and renewable energy, infrastructure, trade, real-estate, agriculture, industry, tourism, micro-finance, and others.”

Dr. Jalal Dabeek, Chairman of the Engineers’ Association, said:” the Association is always seeking to provide services to its members, including new graduates. We focused largely on practical training in order to develop capacities of engineers to immediately engage in the labor market, thus bridging the gap between theory and practice. PIF has thankfully offered us this opportunity that we highly appreciate. We truly believe that PIF as a national institution is highly interested in supporting Palestinian youth, particularly university graduates.”

Lana Abu Hijleh, Chairman of the board of Amaar said:” we take pride in this cooperation and consultation with the Engineers’ Association. We hope to continue our joint efforts to implement more programs aiming at developing the skills of university graduates, alongside future cooperation in planning real-estate, residential, and productive projects that serve several vital sectors, including focusing on Jerusalem and creating jobs for Palestinians in the city.”

In his turn, Fadi Dweik, the General Manager of PIF, said :” PIF places a great importance on youth. In this context, PIF implements a range of projects to provide Palestinian youth with the needed competence and skills to engage in the labor market. This includes Ibda’a program for youth that focuses on encouraging and empowering youth to engage in the economic life by providing them with the needed skills and expertise for that, in addition to other programs with similar objectives.”

Azem Bishara, CEO of Massader, said: “ Massader intends to contribute towards the development of graduates’ skills to increase their employability opportunities, and thus improve their economic conditions and reduce unemployment rates. Graduates will complete internships in projects and programs managed by Massader in traditional and renewable energy sectors. The trainees will observe and engage in the work processes of various projects according to their specializations. This will allow them to gain technical and practical skills needed for engagement in the labour market.”