RIYADH, 3 July — As many as 23 economists, administrators and academics are contesting for the prestigious post of secretary-general of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI).
The contestants include deputy ministers, officials holding international positions, university professors and assistants to the present CSCCI secretary-general.
The new secretary-general will be chosen at a meeting of the council to be held in Ahsa in September. The new CSCCI chief will take charge on Oct. 20.
Top names contesting for the post include Mashaari Al-Ghonaim, adviser to the Riyadh chamber, Dr. Towfik Al-Qaseer, director general of a consultancy firm (Al-Afak), Dr. Hamad Al-Oqla, secretary-general of the Arab Council for Childhood and Development, and Dr. Fahd Al-Sultan, deputy minister at Municipal and Rural Affairs Ministry for planning and programs.
Others in the fray are: Dr. Ibrahim Al-Motref, deputy governor of the General Investment Authority, Dr. Muhammad Al-Saleh, secretary-general of the International Education Council, and Dr. Osama Abu Gharara, assistant deputy minister at the Industry and Electricity Ministry for financial and administrative affairs.
These candidates were nominated by the CSCCI chairman as well as the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry has nominated Dr. Abdul Aziz Daghestani, chairman of the Economic Studies House and editor in chief of Aalam Al-Eqtisad magazine, Ismail Sajeeni, chairman of Sajeeni Consulting Center, Dr. Abdul Aziz Turkistani, adviser at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, and Fahd Al-Selmi, deputy secretary-general of CSCCI.
Outgoing Secretary-General Osama Kurdi, who has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, began his official career at the Saudi Consulting House where he worked for four years before joining the Council of Saudi Chambers in 1991 as deputy secretary-general. He became secretary-general in January 1998.
Kurdi is a board member of the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, Saudi Transport Company (Mubarrad), National Industrialization Company and Saudi Arabian Airlines and a member of the Engineering Committee of the CSCCI. He is a recognized international arbitrator.
Kurdi, who is one of the busiest Saudi officials, puts in about 12 hours daily for official work. Although he is closely connected with the private sector, he does not want to become a businessman in the future.
