Doha:HE Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth, Engineer Yasser bin Abdullah Al Jamal, emphasized the importance of investing in young people, highlighting them as essential to achieving overall economic growth. He underscored the necessity for youth to acquire essential skills and opportunities to engage in labor markets and showcase their ventures.
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Jamal spoke at the 9th World Investment Forum in Doha, focusing on investment in talent and entrepreneurship. He identified limited opportunities, rather than a lack of talent, as the primary challenge for young people globally. Al Jamal stressed the need for partnerships between public and private sectors, educational institutions, and international organizations to provide these opportunities.
Al Jamal pointed out that 257 million young people worldwide are not engaged in employment, education, or training, with the Arab region facing a youth unemployment rate of 26.2 percent. He highlighted the substantial youth population in the Middle East and North Africa, emphasizing the importance of expanding opportunities to harness their potential for economic and social contributions.
The Ministry is implementing programs through youth centers and partnerships to enhance young people's market readiness. Al Jamal emphasized skills like collective action and adaptability for future leadership and innovation. He detailed efforts to facilitate the transition from education to working life, including post-graduation programs and training opportunities, benefiting over 1,500 participants in the past year.
On entrepreneurship, Al Jamal highlighted the Small Business Development Center's role in providing young entrepreneurs with access to an integrated ecosystem of support. Over the past two years, the center has benefited more than 13,000 participants through various courses and workshops, aligning its activities with eight of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
Al Jamal concluded by stressing the need for combined efforts in youth empowerment and the importance of partnerships that treat young people as active partners in shaping the future. He called for coordinated efforts across education, employment, and entrepreneurship sectors to unlock young people's potential for inclusive economic growth.
