Riyadh: The Saudi Fashion Commission signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Saudi Retail Academy on the sidelines of the graduation ceremony of the academy's first cohort, in a strategic step aimed at developing national capabilities and enhancing specialized skills in the fashion and retail sectors, in support of local talent and the creation of sustainable employment opportunities in this vital industry.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the MoU stems from the two sides' keenness to cooperate in the fields of training and professional development. The Fashion Commission focuses on developing local talent, transferring global expertise, and advancing the fashion sector in the Kingdom, while the Saudi Retail Academy is a non-profit institute and a specialized entity in training and development in the retail field and in building professional competencies and skills related to retail and sales.
The MoU aims to establish a framework for cooperation to design and implement specialized training programs that enhance the readiness of national cadres and qualify them in accordance with the highest professional standards, with a focus on developing skills in sales, customer experience, and store management, in line with labor market requirements and the needs of the growing fashion sector.
Fashion Commission chief executive Burak Cakmak said that developing human capital is a fundamental pillar for the long-term growth of the Kingdom's fashion sector, noting that the partnership reflects the commitment to strengthening the capabilities that form the foundation of a competitive and sustainable industry through investment in specialized skills within retail and customer experience, enabling brands to grow and supporting the sector's confident evolution.
Saudi Retail Academy chief executive Hend AlDhaban affirmed that the partnership embodies a shared vision to empower national talent and elevate professionalism in the retail sector, explaining that the agreement will help channel training expertise to meet the specialized needs of the fashion sector and equip young men and women with the practical skills required to succeed in the labor market, thereby enhancing service quality and supporting localization targets and economic growth.
This cooperation comes as part of the Fashion Commission's ongoing efforts to develop the fashion value chain through building strategic partnerships with specialized training and education entities, expanding professional opportunities for national talent, and linking education and training outputs with labor-market needs.
The commission and the academy, through their partnership, contribute to building an integrated ecosystem that connects education, vocational qualification, and employment, enhancing the competitiveness of the fashion and retail sectors and supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 in empowering national cadres, localizing jobs, and improving quality of life.
