Kiitos stimulates IT talent from the Middle East and North Africa
Software company Kiitos creates jobs for IT talent from the Middle East and North Africa. These young people work on projects for Dutch clients. Kiitos strives for gender equality. That is why the company mainly trains women (especially young women) to become IT workers.
"There are far too few software developers in the Netherlands," co-founder Christian Vezjak explains. "At the same time, young people from the Middle East and North Africa cannot wait to get started." Kiitos has received a growth subsidy from the Dutch Good Growth Fund (DGGF). This is part of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency’s International Financing programme. Thanks to the subsidy, Kiitos is now able to find work for more young people.
Gender equality
Kiitos was founded in the Palestinian Territories. Its goal is international growth. The company is already active in Jordan and hopes to expand to three other countries this year. "Thanks to this subsidy, we have found jobs for 30 people in the past 15 months," Vezjak says. "We want to create a thousand jobs in the Middle East and North Africa. Gender equality is an important part of our mission. That is why we want to give 500 of these jobs to men and 500 to women."
To this end, Kiitos works with local non-governmental organisations. These organisations train young people. One of them is Gaza Sky Geeks in the Palestinian Territories. This way, young people without a diploma have the chance to develop themselves as well. Kiitos offers them a talent programme to prepare for their careers. As part of this programme, the software company introduces them to Dutch culture and Dutch partner companies. Vezjak has noticed that Dutch companies do not always want to work with talent from the Middle East and North Africa. Over the past two years Kiitos was able to change this mentality.
Software presents opportunities
Kiitos gives talented young people from the Middle East and North Africa the chance to develop themselves. This stimulates the IT sector and the local economy in this region. Vezjak: "Software presents many opportunities. You do not need much infrastructure to export it. Kiitos puts young people to work for Dutch clients that need IT talent urgently. The software community is coming together in the Palestinian Territories as well. This will lead to new initiatives."
More information about DGGF
Would your company like to make an international impact, just like Kiitos? The Netherlands Enterprise Agency, acting on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has set up DGGF to finance projects in developing countries and emerging markets. Our advisers will be happy to provide tailored advice without obligation. Email us: if@rvo.nl.