Dow Chemical Company becomes major partner of Kuwait's National Manpower Challenge

    Dumped value of 'ID':
'103605';

Dumped value of 'images_loop':
[
    {
        'caption' => 'Earl Shipp, Regional President for India Middle East and Africa, The Dow Chemical Company handing over the Sponsorship Cheque to Ms Hind S. B. Al Subeeh, Assistant General Secretary of the MGRP',
        'col' => 'picture',
        'name' => 'DowManpowerChallenge.jpg',
        'url' => '/6/32656-DowManpowerChallenge.jpg'
    }
];

Dow has been present in Kuwait for 12 years through its joint venture company EQUATE Petrochemical Co. K.S.C, which is dedicated to producing polyethylene and ethylene glycol for Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Through this relationship Dow has consistently encouraged qualified Kuwaiti citizens to work in the private sector.

In 2004, EQUATE received an award from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor for employing the highest percentage of Kuwaiti nationals among private sector companies. Currently almost 60 percent of EQUATE's 900-strong workforce are Kuwaiti citizens and 90 percent of managers and technical supervisors are Kuwaiti nationals.

Dow's Regional President for India, the Middle East and Africa Earl Shipp said DOW was proud to support the national Manpower 'Challenge' awareness project and its aim to boost Kuwaiti employment in the private sector.

'Dow stands for tradition, innovation, global leadership and above all its people. Dow believes in strongly supporting the aspirations of the communities in which it operates and in contributing to national economic development. Whether it is through supporting programs such as this or helping to solve issues like water availability or making Dow scientists available to students, Dow wants to be of benefit to Kuwait and its people,' Mr. Shipp said.

The 2007 National Manpower 'Challenge' project seeks to encourage Kuwaiti youth to join the private sector when they complete their education. An integrated awareness campaign will run throughout the year with events, seminars and forums for high school, college, and applied institute students.

Since its inception, the Manpower 'Challenge' program has assisted in establishing internship programs with nearly 500 companies. In 2005, the new Kuwaiti workforce comprised of 37 percent locals in the private sector. The program aims to increase this number to about 50 percent by the end of 2006.

'The 'Challenge' project is a social campaign,' said Ms. Hind S. B. Al Subeeh, Assistant General Secretary of the Manpower and Government Restructuring Program. 'Our aim is to re-educate the Kuwaiti population and encourage them to join the private sector by targeting primary schools and universities. We want to instill in the youth and encourage in them the entrepreneurial spirit. We want them to participate in the private sector as this will eventually help in the development of not only the Kuwaiti economy, but also in the fabric of society as well,' she further added.