The Beirut Digital District and the World Bank launched a three-year training programme designed to equip 9,500 young people in Lebanon with digital expertise for the local, regional and global job markets.
Saroj Kumar, World Bank’s Regional Director, said in a statement on Friday that the programme, “Skilling Up Lebanon”, would help youths to build the right skillsets to thrive in an ever-growing digital economy.
He said that “without the right skills, Lebanon may not benefit from the opportunities disruptive technologies and digital firms have to offer.
“The Lebanese workforce will find itself lagging behind its neighbours and counterparts,” said Kumar, whose terms of reference in the World Bank covers Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, Jordan and Iran.
Private companies attending the event pledged to offer programme candidates their quota of job interview opportunities for the next 12 to 24 months.
Beirut Digital District was launched in 2012 as a government-sponsored enterprise zone, aiming to create a hub for the digital and creative industries in Lebanon.