JEDDAH, 24 June 2004 — The First GCC Quality Seminar concluded here yesterday with a resolution to further strengthen and increase awareness of quality applications in the government sector.
The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) in association with the Saudi Arabian Quality Council (SAQC — Western Region) organized the two-day seminar.
“When we started about seven years ago in Jeddah, just seven people attended the first seminar, which was a pointer to its awareness in Saudi Arabia. Today, we have more than 400 attendees from all over the Gulf,” Dr. Ayed T. Al-Amri, director of SAQC, told Arab News.
He said the highpoint of the quality seminar was the announcement of the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Quality Award Tuesday by Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majed. “For the first two years of its life, it will focus on the government sector which is seen as badly in need of encouragement.”
Details of the award will be announced later after meeting next week of the executive committee of the SAQC along with the SGS. SAQC will administer the award. It will provide the technical know-how, and help in making assessments. It is the third award for quality in the Kingdom.
The first one, the King Abdul Aziz National Quality Award, announced two years ago by a Royal Decree, is nationwide. The second is the Prince Muhammad ibn Fahd Award for Excellent Performance in Government Sector. It was established three years ago uniquely for the Eastern Province.
“This one is for the Makkah region. It is really good news for us in quality management. The main objective is to create awareness and motivation for application of quality in every sector of the government, and the award will play this role in the Kingdom,” Al-Amri said.
“Quality is inherent in Islamic teachings, which urge us to do our best,” said Kawther Faden, education supervisor at Makkah Supervision Office. “It will encourage good performance,” she added.
Monira Abdul Rauf Amjad, principal of 20th Secondary School in Jeddah, thought it would encourage people in the government sector to perform as efficiently as in the private sector. “It will encourage positive action and efforts from all government departments to change for better quality.”
Noor Omar Al-Amoudi, assistant director of support services, King Abdul Aziz University Hospital, said there was one paper from Dubai that was presented on the opening day focusing on the Dubai Excellence Award for the government sector.
“Dubai has good experience. It is a mature award and it is the best award right now in the Arab world. We selected this paper with the intention to get the floor and learn from their experience,” he explained.
Osama I. Shaikh, assistant manager, human resources development, Saudia Catering, said the award was good encouragement for the sector to raise standards to a level with the highest standard companies in the private sector in the Middle East, a significant move with Saudi Arabia’s entry to the World Trade Organization imminent.
