Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, celebrated the graduation of seven Seychellois engineers who have completed a comprehensive training program with Etihad Airways.
Antoine Francois, Cliffton Leon, Damien Azemia, Erol Agricole, Hervé Toulon, Mario DeSylva and Marlon Nourrice embarked on the four-year course in September 2012, where they learnt about both the theoretical and practical components of aircraft maintenance engineering.
The engineers were congratulated on their accomplishment at a special ceremony attended by Christoph Schippel, General Manager Operations of Air Seychelles; Jeff Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways Engineering; Faisal Al-Mulla, Senior Manager Graduate Engineering Programme at Etihad Airways; and Kevin Pereira, Head of Engineering Training at Etihad Airways.
Roy Kinnear, Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, said: “We’re delighted to welcome home our talented engineers and congratulate them for successfully finishing one of the top aircraft maintenance engineering programs in the world.”
“The four-year program enabled our engineers to gain a wealth of experience with modern Airbus aircraft that form the backbone of our international fleet, made possible by our partnership with Etihad Airways.”
“Their graduation once again demonstrates our commitment to the professional development of Seychellois youth, as well as the emphasis we place on human resources which is vital for securing the future of Air Seychelles.”
Jeff Wilkinson said: “We offer our congratulations to the seven engineers who today celebrate their graduation from the Etihad Airways Graduate Engineering Training program. This graduation ceremony marks a significant moment in their careers as they look forward to a great future with Air Seychelles.”
“Over the past four years these men have gained knowledge and valuable hands-on experience on technologically advanced aircraft as they immersed themselves in an organization of engineering excellence. We are confident they will be an asset to their national carrier as they use the skills and knowledge they acquired at Etihad Airways Engineering’s world-class facility in Abu Dhabi.”
The theory sessions fulfilled European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) requirements for an aircraft maintenance engineering license. Courses included aviation regulations, digital techniques and aerodynamics.
The practical component of the course covered various aspects of line maintenance and engineering checks on Airbus aircraft, such as the A320s and A330s in the Air Seychelles fleet, all the way up to the A380s, the world’s largest passenger aircraft operated by Etihad Airways.
Air Seychelles engineers graduate from Etihad Airways training program
Air Seychelles engineers graduate from Etihad Airways training program
25,000 attend Social Development Bank’s DeveGO25 forum
The Social Development Bank concluded the second edition of the Entrepreneurship and Modern Business Practices Forum — DeveGo 2025 — announcing the achievement of high-impact outcomes that further reinforced the forum’s position as the largest national platform in the region dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, and freelance work in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
The forum witnessed broad participation from local and international experts, investors, entrepreneurs, and representatives of local, regional, and international institutions.
Over three days at the King Abdulaziz International Conference Center, the forum drew 25,000 participants and visitors, who benefited from over 45 specialized workshops and over 2500 advisory sessions delivered by more than 70 consultants and experts.
The sessions covered key areas including entrepreneurial planning, business models, venture capital, digital platforms, freelancing, and emerging technologies.
The forum also featured 20 panel discussions with leading local and international speakers, addressing major global trends in entrepreneurship, including the future of artificial intelligence, the creative economy, digital transformation, and venture investment.
The forum saw the launch of the Saudi Empretec Fellowship, in the presence of Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the UN Conference on Trade and Development.
The partners in success within the Social Responsibility Portfolio supporting entrepreneurs were honored.
It also saw the honoring of 13 winners of the Handicrafts Competition, representing various regions of the Kingdom, the announcement of winners of the Salam Award for Promising Projects, and the recognition of leading entrepreneurial projects fund under the Enterprises Track.
In addition, the NEXT UP Challenge concluded on the third day of the forum with 20 startups presenting their projects to more than 500 investors, enhancing opportunities for networking and partnership building.
As part of efforts to strengthen the support ecosystem, the forum witnessed the signing of 51 agreements, along with the launch of a suite of new financing products. These included the Capital Expansion Product with a ceiling of up to SR10 million, the Payroll Product with a ceiling of SR2 million, and the Rental Product with a ceiling of SR1.5 million, aimed at supporting enterprises in asset development and covering operational costs.
This reflects the bank’s direction toward offering more specialized financing tools that respond effectively to market needs.
The forum concluded by reaffirming its role as a unifying national platform for entrepreneurship, where accompanying activities and events provided direct engagement opportunities between entrepreneurs, investors, and experts.
The forum also highlighted success stories and practical experiences that reflect the scale of entrepreneurial momentum in the Kingdom and the growing role of the Social Development Bank in supporting a national economy driven by innovation and knowledge.
