Cairo, June 19 (QNA) - The First Gulf-Arab Conference for Training and Development, organized by the International Federation for Training and Development (IFTD), commenced in Cairo on Friday.

Themed "From the Gulf to the Ocean: Bridges of Knowledge and Development," the two-day conference brings together representatives from Qatar, along with delegations from 14 other Arab countries.

A select group of leaders and officials from training and development institutions, government and private entities, academics, researchers, entrepreneurs, trainers, experts, representatives of research and studies institutions, media professionals, and content creators are also participating.

The opening session of the conference was attended by HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Arab Republic of Egypt and its Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States, Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al-Thani and HE Director General of the Arab Organization for Administrative Development, affiliated with the League of Arab States, Dr. Nasser Al Hatlan Al Qahtani.

In his address during the opening session of the conference, President of IFTD, Dr. Dera Muajeb Al Dosari explained that the conference is a continuation of a series of training and development conferences, three of which were held in Doha in 2023, 2024, and 2025. He expressed his appreciation for Egypt's hosting of the conference and for the efforts of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Arab Republic of Egypt in ensuring its success.

He also expressed his gratitude to the Chairman of Al Faisal Holding, HE Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani the conference's strategic partner, and to the Honorary President of the IFTD, HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Faisal bin Qassim Al-Thani. He voiced hope that the conference would be a success and represent a step towards greater cooperation and integration among Arab countries.

He noted that the IFTD will hold its next conference in the Sultanate of Oman on September 15 and 16, under the title "The Family Institution Between Identity and Current Challenges," as well as the first conference on civil diplomacy and volunteer work in Sousse, Tunisia, on September 26 and 27. He also mentioned the first Kuwait Conference on Training and Development, to be held on October 2 and 3 in Kuwait, and announced the establishment of the International Academy for Civil Diplomacy in Tunisia.

In the same context, Dr. Al Dosari told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that "the main objective of the conference is to build and develop Arab human resources, considering them one of the most important resources that must be managed efficiently and effectively." He pointed out that the conference will include working papers and specialized sessions on topics such as digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and construction and development.

He indicated that the conference's outcomes and recommendations will be submitted to civil service bureaus and human resources departments throughout the Arab world to be used in developing policies and practices related to human resource development. He added that the success of the opening ceremony reflects the importance and standing of the conference in the Arab region.

During the conference's opening session, the IFTD President honored influential figures participating in the conference with working papers, specialized workshops, and inspiring success stories, in addition to honoring several public figures.

Thereafter, the first session of the conference featured a presentation of several success stories in the field of training and development, including one by Mr. Jamil Obaid Mohammed Turki entitled "The Community College in Qatar: A Success Story and a Model to Emulate in Higher Education."

The conference agenda included panel discussions, workshops, and specialized recommendations to keep pace with the rapid developments in education, training, and development.

The aim was to establish an integrated system between education and the labor market and to formulate an implementation roadmap that would bridge the gap between the outputs of educational institutions and the rapidly evolving demands of the Gulf and Arab labor markets.

This would ensure the readiness of the workforce for the future, localize knowledge, and build an Arab knowledge economy. (QNA)