Riau Islands Governor Ismeth Abdullah inaugurated on Monday the Batam Training centre established by Dubai Drudocks World, Southeast Asia's biggest shipbuilder, which will train the company's current and prospective employees in an effort to improve their skills in shipbuilding, ship repair and management.
"The training centre will help enhance the local workers' skills to the standard required by the company. This is part of the responsibilities of companies investing in Batam and in line with our requirements for investors in the three special economic zones of Batam, Bintan and Karimun," Ismeth told The Jakarta Post.
He said Dubai Drydocks World was currently Batam's largest foreign investor, owning the Pertama, Nanindah and Graha shipyards, operating in a total area of 400 hectarea. Dubai Drydocks World moves in shipbuilding and ship repairs and employs around 10,000 skilled workers.
"The training centre can train around 200 people during each batch. This really helps us to improve workers' skills. We expect it will be able to collaborate with the local administration," he said.
Dubai Drydocks World is the second foreign investor to build a training centre for its workers and prospective employees, based on data from the Riau Islands provincial administration.
The McDermott Indonesia, which is moving in the oil- and gas-supporting industry, is the first to build such a training centre.
"We have urged the companies in heavy industries to help improve their workers' skills for the sake of their workers' welfare," Ismeth said.
Ninety shipyard industries currently operate in Batam with a total investment of US$3 billion, or around 30 percent of foreign total investments in Batam, he said.
Dubai Drydocks World managing director Mark Biggs said the company began building the Batam Training centre 14 months ago.
The training centre is located in one of the company's shipyard area in Tanjung Uncang, Batam.
"This is aimed at empowering the local community and part of our responsibility to improve our workers' skills."
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