Panelists during the Seatrade Maritime Qatar Conference and Exhibition.
DOHA: The maritime sector is poised for a positive trajectory of growth by investing in Qatar’s young talents, said officials during the recently concluded Seatrade Maritime Qatar Conference and Exhibition
In a panel session titled, ‘Building A Local Talent Pool. How Big Is The Challenge? How Can the Talent Pipeline Be Futureproofed?’ industry leaders gathered to share insights on drawing local talents to unlock human potential and economic growth.
Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the session, Danial Kaabi, CEO of Sea Horizon Offshore Marine Services, who moderated the panel said, “Investing in the future of Qatar’s maritime sector means cultivating a talent pool that is not only skilled for today but equipped to navigate the challenges and innovations of tomorrow, ensuring long-term growth, sustainability, and global competitiveness.”
Elias Abou Jawdeh, Acting VP of the Freight Logistics Department at Milaha, said, “We get a lot of competition, especially in Qatar to attract talents. Many fresh graduates desire to get into several sectors, including shipping and logistics. So we have decided to invest in the training and upskilling of people and paving the way for fresh graduates from high school by offering numerous academy courses and guaranteed hiring as soon as they graduate.”
He remarked this initiative of carrier progression is working its magic by drawing students and setting the standards to get more local talent into the shipping and logistics industry.
“We are on the frontline when we manage ships. We want to attract the best of the best, so taking a step back, training, and investing in these people right from the beginning has paid off for us,” Jawdeh added.
Dr. Salem Al Naemi, President of the University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST), highlighted that the university is recognised for the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce in the country.
“We have noticed that there is a big shortage in the marine and shipping industry in Qatar and that’s why we have introduced majors in marine engineering, port management, and supply chain logistics,” Dr. Al Naemi said.
Additionally, the UDST has a marine centre, which plays a crucial role in the industry.
“We do welcome the industry at large to reach out to us and we are also trying to reach out to them to encourage the youth to be part of the marine sector,” he said. Dr. Al Naemi explained that in Qatar there are a lot of challenges, including the shortage of local students in various realms including science, and therefore introduced ‘Stem education’ to empower both students and teachers.
The UDST president also emphasised the need to attract more women to operate on the ship or at the port.
The discussion outlined the challenges faced by the maritime and offshore industries and how stakeholders are addressing them, coupled with efforts to attain Qatar’s strategic vision for 2030.
