President William Ruto's efforts to secure job opportunities for Kenyans in Saudi Arabia have gained momentum as Health Cabinet Secretary (CS) Susan Nakhumicha urges Kenyan nurses to apply for jobs in the Gulf country. CS Nakhumicha revealed that the government has ratified a partnership between Nairobi and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to enhance safe and productive labor migration between the two countries. The contract for the jobs in Saudi Arabia would last a year and be renewed annually, with a minimum monthly salary of KSh 176,904 and a maximum working period of 48 hours per week. Qualified Kenyan health specialists with a diploma or certificate in nursing are invited to apply for 1,500 jobs in Saudi Arabia. To facilitate the application process, the recently established Pearson Virtual Universal Enterprises (VUE) International Professional Test Centre will administer the National Council Licensure Examination-registered nurse (NCLEX-RN) examinations for nurses seeking global opportunities. President Ruto expressed disappointment at UDA Members of Parliament for being unaware of the nursing opportunities in Saudi Arabia. In addition to the nursing positions, the government has also announced 2,000 job vacancies for housemaids in Saudi Arabia with a KSh 32,000 salary. [223cd872]
President Ruto's commitment to securing job opportunities for Kenyans in Saudi Arabia aligns with his promise to boost agricultural production in Kenya. He aims to eliminate the need for maize imports by 2025 and create a self-sufficient agricultural sector. Ruto plans to sign bilateral agreements during his upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia to further strengthen the economic cooperation between the two countries. Meanwhile, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines has also secured job opportunities for Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia, with an estimated 220,000 job opportunities generated during his visit. The agreements signed between Saudi and Filipino firms aim to fill the growing demand for laborers in the kingdom as part of the Saudi Vision 2030. The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (TUCP) president and Deputy Speaker Raymond Democrito Mendoza praised the trip and expressed hope for better treatment of Filipino workers. [486b09f2]
President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea has embarked on state visits to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to enhance economic cooperation between the countries. The visits include meetings with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as participation in various economic events and the International Horticultural Exposition. The objective is to strengthen existing partnerships and explore new areas of cooperation beyond energy and construction, such as hydrogen, IT, autos, shipbuilding, renewable energy, culture, and entertainment. Discussions on the security situation in the Middle East are also expected. These visits hold significance as they mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Qatar. President Yoon will also discuss strategies for stabilizing oil and gas supplies amidst global uncertainty and oil price volatility. Business leaders from conglomerates like Samsung and Hyundai are accompanying the delegation. [xxxxxxxx]
A Kenyan man named Samuel Kimani, who moved to the United States, quit his nursing job and started his own restaurant called Jambo Grill in Alabama. The restaurant specializes in Kenyan cuisines such as nyama choma and matumbo. Kimani worked as a nurse in Kenya before pursuing his dream of becoming an entrepreneur. He believes the restaurant's success is due to its convenient location, near a market and with a parking lot. The restaurant mainly serves Kenyans residing in the US but also attracts customers from other regions worldwide. Kimani has also added Caribbean meals to the menu to expand his business. He faced challenges in hiring Kenyans due to US labor rules. In related news, a Kenyan woman who moved to the US for a nursing job found success in the chapati business. Doline Nyambati identified a gap in the market and started selling chapatis to busy people who had limited time to cook. She started with friends and church members as her first customers. Meanwhile, Bob Mwiti sponsors brilliant learners for master's degrees in select US universities through his Kenya Airlift Programme. [eda48ccc]
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. returned to the Philippines from the 2023 Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Gulf Cooperation Council (Asean-GCC) Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he secured multimillion-dollar investments, pitched the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF), and ensured the welfare of Filipino workers in the Middle East. [e3cf72de]