São Paulo – Last Wednesday (16th), the National Service of Industrial Education (Senai) signed an agreement to provide professional training to Saudi managers and teachers. The deal was signed in Brasília by the Brazilian institute and the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), based in the Middle Eastern country.
According to the Industrial Development analyst at Senai, Raquel Ferreira Sena, the contract provides for the training of 10 to 15 managers of TVTC schools, plus 40 teachers, in the second half this year. During two weeks, the managers will immerse themselves in Senai’s work ethics, strategic planning and interaction at operational units in the state of Santa Catarina. The teachers will spend three months in São Paulo to receive training in auto manufacturing, precision mechanics, electronics and electricity.
TVTC operates in its country along similar lines to those of Senai, but it also has the mission of formulating public policies alongside the Saudi government. According to Raquel, the Saudi institution contacted Senai to express its interest in the training. At first, in July 2010, a director from TVTC visited Brazil to witness Senai’s work in professional training and technological innovation. In October last year, a delegation from Senai visited the TCTV headquarters to evaluate a prospective project, and then the first training action was decided on.
According to Raquel, the TVTC became interested in the Senai as a result of its international cooperation programs. Senai maintains training centres in other countries, such as East Timor, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde, and also supplies personnel to Brazilian enterprises operating abroad, such as Vale in Mozambique. The institute is expanding its foreign operations. It should open new centres in countries such as Haiti and El Salvador, and provide training to oil company Petrobras in Tanzania and building company Queiroz Galvão in Nicaragua. The centres are an initiative of the Brazilian government in cooperation with the governments of each country, whereas the provision of training to multinational companies is an initiative of the Senai.
The director general of TVTC, Ali Bin Nasser Al-Ghafis, who is also a minister of state, travelled to Brazil to sign the agreement and headed back to Saudi Arabia this Thursday (17th). He was accompanied by the Saudi ambassador to Brasília, Mohamed Amin Ali Kurdi, and embassy representatives. On the Brazilian side, the agreement was signed by the director general of the Senai, Rafael Lucchesi, and the chairman of Senai’s National Council, Robson Braga de Andrade. The operational aspects of the agreement were taken care of by the Senai’s executive manager of International Relations Senai, Frederico Lamego Teixeira Soares, with the aid of Raquel.
The agreement signed with TVTC is a contract for provision of services. Al-Ghafis attended appointments in Brazil since Monday, including visits to Senai in São Paulo and to the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (Fiesp).
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
