JEDDAH, 17 November 2004 — Saudi authorities said they have foiled attempts by Israeli companies to get their products into the Kingdom market and from there to other Gulf states with the products disguised as goods manufactured in Western and other countries.
The Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI) said attempts made by 12 Israeli to break the boycott by getting Israeli goods into the Saudi market have been foiled. The council sent warning messages to local chambers of commerce and industry asking them to be cautious about dealing with suspicious firms.
The companies listed were said to be active in the production of bullet proof jackets, paints, water purification equipment, electronics, telephones, old cars, reinforced doors, textiles, fuel and other goods.
A circular sent to local chambers called for more cautious when dealing with foreign firms and said the authorities were tightening control over goods coming through the Kingdom’s entry points to prevent the entrance of any good of suspicious origin.
The CSCCI statement said that Israeli companies are seeking to export their products to the Kingdom and from there to neighboring Gulf markets with the goods disguised as Western or Arab made products.
Saudi authorities have blacklisted about 190 foreign companies, including Arab and Western firms, in the last 12 months for seeking to import Israeli goods into the domestic market. The companies, including 72 from Jordan, and 70 from Cyprus, figured in the list after being accused by the authorities of importing and selling Israeli goods in the Saudi market. The other companies were based in Egypt, 23, Turkey, 11, Germany, 6, the United States, 3, and the rest from Britain, Singapore, Taiwan, Poland and Portugal.
CSCCI has repeatedly asked its members not to import any goods suspected of Israeli origin. Reports have suggested that some of the Jordanian companies were being probed to confirm accusations that they received Israeli capital and re-exported Israeli goods to Arab countries.
The government have tightened inspection and control measures at the Kingdom’s borders instructing customs at airports, seaports and land border points not to release any products which do not carry certificates of origin in its bid to prevent Israeli products from entering the country.
The Ministry of Commerce has also warned foreign companies against importing Israeli products into the Kingdom, either directly or through a third country, saying any company involved in such fraudulent activities will immediately be blacklisted.
The ministry has cautioned Saudi businessmen to be careful while signing deals with foreign companies and urged them to be certain of the origin of all imported products.
The ministry has in the past blacklisted several foreign companies, including German and Polish firms, for trying to send Israeli products into the Kingdom and instructed all quality control centers to reject shipments by any of those companies.
Arab countries have set up a boycott office based in Damascus, Syria, to enforce a boycott policy against Israel to exert pressure on Tel Aviv to end its military occupation of Arab lands.