11 March 2021 Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: One of the goals of Vision 2030 is to accelerate women’s representation in the labour market and leadership positions; therewith making gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workforce a reality.
The industrial and manufacturing sectors in Saudi Arabia have dramatically changed with Saudi women now looking to show their capabilities in previously male dominated fields; a change that Zahid Group has wholeheartedly encouraged. Zahid Group is focused on developing the careers of Saudi Nationals across all Group companies and at all levels.
A Zahid Group company who is leading the way in accelerating women’s participation in the labour market is Arabian Vehicles & Trucks Industry Co., Ltd (AVI). AVI was established in 1998 as a joint venture between Zahid Group and the Volvo Trucks Corporation and is located within a state-of-the-art facility in King Abdullah Economic City. AVI currently assembles Volvo & Renault Trucks and will be by April the only plant in the world to assembles all the three brands of Volvo Trucks, Renault Trucks and UD Trucks on one production line.
With aggressive recruiting and meticulous on-job training, AVI has attracted skilled Saudi nationals looking to build tangible products as well as their careers. Proud male and female Saudi Arabians are at the heart of AVI’s well-trained workforce. There are many females today who work on the production line; helping assemble the trucks that meet the needs of the Kingdom’s demanding transportation sector.
“I am excited to come to work every day and work in a safe and friendly environment with the support of supervisors who are always there to encourage and motivate us,” says Bashayir, a Maintenance Coordinator at the plant.
“Being a part of the process has made me appreciate all the hard work and detail that goes into building the trucks. I feel proud to be assembling trucks that transport food and fruits to the supermarkets I regularly shop at,” added another female employee at the plant.
In an effort to adhere to global best practices while simultaneously increasing its proficient workforce, AVI provides extensive training that is in line with Volvo’s stringent quality standards. The AVI plant has subsequently received a Gold Level recognition from Volvo Trucks Corporation; therewith ranking it as one of the top Volvo plants in the world.
Across all Zahid Group companies females are empowered and encouraged to participate and distinguish themselves. Diversity in the workforce has always been a priority of Zahid Group and that commitment to diversification has led to the emergence of many inspirational Saudi Arabian women who are continuing to evolve their skillset and contribute to the Kingdom’s economy and society.
