Daikin Middle East and Africa FZE ("Daikin"), a leading manufacturer of Air Conditioning, Heating, Ventilation and Refrigeration solutions, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion (OFPPT), Morocco's leading public vocational training institution, based in Casablanca, Kingdom of Morocco. Daikin MEA and OFPPT are united in their desire to develop a highly skilled HVAC-R profession in the country.

Tuna Gulenc, Vice President of Daikin Middle East and Africa and Loubna Tricha, Director General of the Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion (OFPPT), signed the Memorandum of Understanding at Daikin MEA's headquarters in Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE.

Africa is undergoing a huge shift, which has sparked widespread interest. The region has significant growth potential for both global and local firms. Using its global expertise, Daikin has built a solid basis in Africa through collaboration with local dealers, distributors and technicians. Over the years, the corporation has invested in local citizenship by opening brand shops and training centres, as well as making its most recent inventions available to Africans. Daikin and OFPPT will work together to develop a high-quality talent pool for Morocco's HVAC-R business.

Tuna Gulenc, Vice President of Daikin Middle East and Africa, commented on the collaboration, saying, "Innovation is in our DNA and local citizenship defines the way we work. After successfully building training centres with the proper partners in Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire, we are now eager to share our knowledge in Morocco. Partnering with institutions such as OFPPT is more than just a go-to-market strategy for HVAC-R after-sales service; with their strong network and our shared vision, we will penetrate the Moroccan HVAC-R industry to promote sustainable cooling practices, which can only be achieved by educating the local market and its users. With this relationship, we hope to create a new generation of highly skilled workers for the HVAC-R industry while also making a substantial contribution to Morocco's socioeconomic development."

Daikin and the OFPPT are collaborating to expand Morocco's "Refrigeration and Thermal Engineering (FGT)" programme by developing new advanced training programmes, updating curriculum and exchanging programmes. Young graduates will also have access to internship opportunities through Daikin's network of partners. This unique partnership between Daikin MEA and the OFPPT illustrates their mutual commitment to human development and societal well-being.

The OFPPT's General Director, Loubna Tricha, announced, "Today, we have entered into a partnership with Daikin, a global leader in refrigeration and air conditioning, to develop professional training in these fields in Morocco and Africa. This agreement will allow us to broaden our training offerings by introducing new courses aimed at rising professions in the area. It will also increase our engineering partnership in developing advanced training programmes that combine the most recent technical breakthroughs and professional practices. The relationship between the OFPPT and Daikin will also allow us to strengthen our teaching staff in newly designated fields and allied technologies through specialised technical training sessions and immersion internships."

OFPPT is the principal public vocational training operator, focused on boosting the effectiveness of industrial partners through employee training. The training is offered using a demand-driven method that addresses the labour market's qualification needs and requirements.

Daikin is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, marking a century of air quality perfection. Today, 100 years later, the Daikin Group offers future-proof solutions for heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification and refrigeration in global markets. Daikin prioritises sustainability in Africa by making energy-efficient inverter R32 product solutions available while also increasing indoor air quality (IAQ). This commitment has been backed up by a robust localization strategy, as well as improved service and aftermarket support, which will ultimately promote healthier living conditions.