31/05/2016 05:18 AST
Yusuffali MA, chairman of LuLu Group, said that Vision 2030 will further improve the Kingdom’s image as one of the leading investment friendly nations in the world. “All businessmen are extremely happy with the Vision, which will, no doubt, be an encouragement and boost to all businessmen and investors from all around the world to come and do business in the Kingdom,” he told Saudi Gazette on the sidelines of the launching of the Group’s 125th outlet in Jeddah on Sunday.
He thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, and Deputy Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, for leading the Kingdom as a vibrant nation with immense potential of human and natural resources plus the seat of Islamic holy sites. “Our group will give full support to the Vision announced by the Deputy Crown Prince. Not only the Saudi government, but also the entire Saudi and expatriate business community, are also fully confident that the Vision would be helpful to both the wholesale and retail businessmen and traders.”
Yusuffali said his group, with an annual turnover of $5.5 billion globally, will contribute significantly in augmenting the Kingdom’s fast growth as envisaged in the Vision. At present, there are 1,700 Saudis, including women, working at Lulu outlets in the Kingdom. The group has plans to employ as many as 5,000 Saudis by the end of 2018. “We are giving special training to Saudis. We hired the Saudi staff after giving them training. Our special training programs cover diverse sectors such as IT, skilled and semi-skilled, and managerial posts. “Saudis work with us not only as cashiers and salesmen but also as general managers, HR managers etc. There are highly qualified Saudi women who are holding managerial posts, and working in our call centers, accounts, logistics, warehouses, and computer sections…,” he said, adding that 15 percent of LuLu staff in the Kingdom are women who are working very sincerely.
Yusuffali, whom the ‘Arabian Business’ named as the most influential Indian in the Gulf, also shared his extreme joy in setting foot at the gateway of the Two Holy Mosques with his group’s 125th outlet. “As a businessman, I have immense pride and happiness in this blessing from Almighty Allah,” he said, adding that Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo will open LuLu Group’s 126th outlet in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Saudi Gazette
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