• City Centre Almaza hosted the opening of the Almaza Recruitment and Training Centre (ARTC) under the auspices of Her Excellency Dr. Nevine El Kabbaj, the Egyptian Minister of Social Solidarity
• The centre, now open to the Egyptian community, provides training programmes for those seeking a job in retail and hospitality

Majid Al Futtaim, the leading shopping mall, communities, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East, Africa and Asia, hosted the opening ceremony of the Almaza Recruitment and Training Centre (ARTC) at City Centre Almaza under the auspices of the Egyptian Minister of Solidarity, Her Excellency Dr. Nevine El Kabbaj, on February 28, 2022. The centre, which is accessible to all, provides the Egyptian community with a range of vocational programmes that look to train those seeking a job in the retail and hospitality sectors. Funded by Majid Al Futtaim, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) of the Swiss Confederation, the ARTC is run by Education for Employment–Egypt (EFE), under the consultancy of People 1st International.

The opening ceremony was also attended by key governmental figures and businessmen, including Dr. Mohamed Megahed, Deputy Minister of Education for Technical Education and Mr. Ahmed Kamal, Head of the Investment Zones Department at GAFI. Also among the attendees were Majid Al Futtaim’s partners, as well as members of their leadership team and media personnel.

The ARTC has also successfully partnered with Helm Foundation to guarantee equal opportunities for all and to ensure that the centre is accessible to everyone. The centre is committed to hiring and training inclusively, and maintaining a physically and socially accessible facility.

Diaa Yehia, Country Head at Majid Al Futtaim Properties Egypt, stated: “We’re thrilled to be celebrating the opening of this centre today with our esteemed guests and partners under the auspices of Her Excellency Dr. Nevine El Kabbaj, the Minister of Social Solidarity. This opening is not solely a milestone for City Centre Almaza, but also for Egypt’s retail and hospitality industries.”

Yehia added, “With the undeniable impact of these two sectors on the country’s economy, and keeping Egypt’s Vision 2030 objectives in mind, the ARTC looks beyond training our staff at Majid Al Futtaim. The opening of the centre aims to better serve the Egyptian public by helping both employers and employees identify, explore and take on new opportunities with an advanced set of skills. This would not have been possible without the unwavering commitment of our partners who helped see the success of this centre through.”

The opening ceremony also hosted a panel discussion between Affaf Nassar, Sustainability Executive at Majid Al Futtaim Properties Egypt, Dr. Heike Harmgart, Managing Director for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region at the EBRD, Dr. Valérie Liechti, Head of the International Cooperation Office at the Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt, Nora Abou El Seoud, CEO of EFE-Egypt, Ramez Amasis Maher, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Helm and Jane Rexworthy, Executive Director at People 1st International.

Nora Abou El Seoud, Chief Executive Officer at Education For Employment-Egypt, added: “As a market-driven organization, the establishment of the ARTC, with the exceptional effort of our valued partners, will enable us to continue helping employers find distinct talent, while also providing trainings and services within these sectors at international standards, right here in Egypt. The trainings will drive the new generation of employees to achieve a successful and fulfilling future, helping them contribute to the advancement of their country’s economy and community. We look forward to seeing ARTC’s participants become leaders of the retail and hospitality industries.”

The centre is now open at City Centre Almaza, offering a range of courses within retail and hospitality such as Retail Works, Coaching for Success, Café Culture, Casual Dining and more. The centre aims to support organizations in training and recruiting potential and existing employees, providing them with vocational trainings and job placement opportunities to help them advance within their careers.