Business & Money | Sunday 21 April, 2019 2:31 am |

The Saudi-Japanese Automobile High Institute (SJAHI) in Jeddah honored the winners of the 16th technical skills competition in the maintenance of Japanese vehicles.

As many as 213 Saudi graduates participated in the contest, which was attended by Japan Consul General Masayuki Miyamoto and SJAHI Executive Director Salem Bin Hassan Al-Asmari among other visiting dignitaries from Japan as well as representatives of various Japanese auto manufacturing companies and their local dealers.

Addressing the gathering, Al-Asmari said the Technical Skills Contest of SJAHI, in the presence of automobile experts from various countries notably among Japan, aimed to highlight the students’ acquired skills in the field of automotive technology and maintenance.

Asmari added that the Kingdom witnessed high technical competencies and skills that exhibit the young graduates were on the right track in their jobs and were on a par with the global best.

Asmari asserted that the doors were open for a wide range of jobs in the automobile sector before the successful graduates of the institute. The jobs range from managerial level to technician level.

Consul General Miyamoto described the Saudi Japanese Automobile High Institute as an icon of longstanding friendly relations between Japan and Saudi Arabia. The institute has been contributing to Kingdom’s industrial growth and development, he said, adding that it also plays a crucial role in the Saudi-based activities of the Japanese automobile manufacturers.

He further asserted that SJAHI has transformed into one of the most important sources of skilled national manpower that support knowledge-based economy.

The SJAHI skills contest is an annual event wherein the participating students will have the chance to display their skills in the field of automotive repair and maintenance.

Qualified teams shall compete against each other in unit repair and on-vehicle repair, which includes periodic maintenance inspection, diagnosing and correcting in-plant troubles in the engine management system, drive train, chassis and the electrical system. Safety, workmanship, speed and accuracy are part of the judging criteria.