DAMMAM, 20 March — The Ta’awun group swept the polls on Sunday held to elect the new board members of the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
All 12 members of the Ta’awun group were elected for the 12 posts — six each for the industrial and trade segments. None of the independent candidates made it to the board, which has a total of 18 members. However, independent candidates (Mustaqloon) gave a spirited contest and a couple of them lost by a very slender margin.
Six members are nominated by the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Industry and Electricity.
In the Industrial segment, those elected are: Zamil Al-Zamil, Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid, Maan Al-Sanea, Khalid Abdul Karim Al-Qahtani, Muhammad Al-Moajil and Saud Alghosaibi. In the trade segment victorious candidates are: Ibrahim Al-Jomaih, Khalid Al-Bawardi, Rashid Al-Suwaiket, Muhammad Nasser Al-Hazza, Abdullah Al-Ammar and Eisa Al-Dosary.
Most of the elected members already held a board seat. The interesting aspect of this election is how a younger generation from the business community is gradually replacing the old guard. The average age of the new board is just 36. Except for Ibrahim Al-Jomaih, who has been a member of the board for many terms, all are members for only one or two terms.
The new board is expected to hold its inaugural meeting next week and elect board chairman and two deputy chairmen. There are many contenders for the position of chairman, but Ibrahim Al-Jomaih, Khaled Abdul Karim Al-Qahtani and Abdul Rahman Al-Rahsed are considered to be strong contenders.
Ibrahim Al-Jomaih has an edge over other contenders due to his seniority. Eisa Al-Dosary and Maan Al-Sanea are likely candidates for vice chairmanship.
The business community welcomed the result and said it hoped that it will promote trade and industry. “It is tough time all over the world and business faces many new challenges,” said Abdullah Al-Qahtani, a prominent local businessman.
The Ta’awun group expressed its gratitude to the voters and assured businessmen in the region that it will work in a united way for the promotion of their interests.
However, ordinary businessmen, who include small investors, are not very optimistic.
“Nothing will change. No one will ever talk about small businesses, which constitute 70 percent of region’s investment,” said Hamza Al-Eisa, a vegetable shop owner in Dammam.
