Saudi Arabia launches defence sector capability development strategy

Saudi Arabia has launched a new strategy to develop the human capital in the defence sector. (Getty Images)

Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Military Industries (GAMI) launched the country's first Military Industries Human Capital (MIHC) strategy on 6 February.

The MIHC has six strategic objectives to help develop the country's domestic defence industrial knowledge base: enabling the sector through supporting policies and regulations; enhancing the level of professionalism, skills, and excellence within the sector's human capital development; empowering research and innovation in defence; assuring the availability of requisite and sustainable human capital; developing digital capabilities; and encouraging participation among stakeholders in planning, training, and funding.

The strategy will also contribute to military technology and production transfer to the kingdom, as well as the expansion and establishment of local manufacturing companies.

According to GAMI, the organisation will achieve these goals through education and training, awareness and guidelines, and policy formation. Priority initiatives to be undertaken include broadening technical training programmes, offering defence-related academic scholarships, expanding defence-related disciplines at university level, introducing specialised training programmes, and empowering women in defence.

Italy's Leonardo and the UK's Cranfield University also signed collaboration agreements with GAMI on the sidelines of the event. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Leonardo covered the creation and development of investment opportunities in the education field specialising in the defence sector, as well as working on developing academic programmes and graduate projects.