Saudisation of public transport industry ordered

All contracts for the public transport system in Makkah, Jeddah and Taif will have to incorporate a clause for the Saudisation of the public transport industries, all the way from spare parts workers through to the manufacturing phase, Makkah Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said on Friday.

"The sector should provide job opportunities to Saudi youth, enabling the province and its population to benefit from all major projects. These should also serve as a source of income for them and their families, especially as the national work force is a major pillar of the comprehensive and sustainable development of any country," Arab News quoted Prince Al-Faisal as saying.

The governor was speaking at a meeting with members of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) in Jeddah. Experts believe that the Saudisation of the industry would create approximately 2,500 jobs.

The Makkah public transport system involves a metro system for Haj and Umrah pilgrims, and a rapid transit bus network with 60 depots to serve the Grand Mosque and areas that are not covered by the metro or rapid transit buses. The total length of system is 65 km.

The Taif municipality has also completed the first phase of a study on the public transport system and now is in the second phase, which involves the design of the main centre of the public transport network, and the main station and branch stations for light trains and buses within the city.