The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting the creation of job opportunities for young people in Jordan with the opening of the Abdali Mall Recruitment and Training Centre (AMRTC), a dedicated on-site training facility in the country’s capital city, Amman.
In 2013 the Bank provided a US$ 80 million loan to Abdali Mall to stimulate further job opportunities for youth and women in Amman, supporting the city's development as a regional business hub. The project also placed a high priority on efficient use of energy and water recycling.
Based on international best practices, AMRTC offers training opportunities and job-matching facilities in the retail and hospitality sectors for young people. The training includes pre-employment courses and continued learning for career progression through a combination of theoretical courses and on-the-job training.
The training centre has been partially operational since April 2016 at an off-site facility. To date, 38 young people have completed the hospitality training programmes, of which 70 per cent have now found permanent employment. With the opening of the in-site AMRTC at Abdali Mall the number of trainees and links into local jobs is set to increase further.
Mattia Romani, the EBRD Managing Director for Economics, Policy and Governance, said: “Tackling youth unemployment in partnership with our private sector clients to address business challenges and foster youth inclusion is a key priority for the EBRD. We are very pleased to team up with Abdali Mall to set up this training facility to help young Jordanians with career guidance through private sector involvement. With over 3,000 new jobs created, Abdali Mall offers a unique opportunity for young people to enter into private sector careers that offer strong progression routes.”
Abdelmajid Al Kabariti, CEO of United Real Estate Company-Jordan, owned by URC-Kuwait, said: “Gaining experience and finding skilled employees are common challenges for job seekers and employers. We are proud to offer training programmes for graduates and significantly improve their employment opportunities. This centre is a reflection of the Abdali Mall Company’s vision to become recognised as a socially responsible organisation and a pioneer of social inclusion and workforce development.”
Supported by the government of Korea and the EBRD Shareholder Special Fund, the training centre benefited from inclusion technical assistance of €100,000.
Jordan became an EBRD country of operations in 2012 and to date the EBRD has committed €676 million through 30 projects in various sectors of the economy, including trade facilitation credit lines with local banks.
The EBRD’s strategic plan for the period 2016-18 has three priorities: strengthening economic resilience, addressing global challenges and supporting regional integration. In the context of the EBRD’s focus on Green Economy Transition since late 2015, the Bank expects to more than triple the volume of renewable energy projects financed in Jordan in the near future.