RIYADH, 30 December 2004 — “Egyptian companies that are exporting Israeli products will be boycotted by the Kingdom,” said the president of the Saudi Exports Development Center (SEDC) of the Saudi Council of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Zamil. He was speaking at a press conference to announce the first Saudi exporters conference which will be opened by the Commerce & Industry Minister Dr. Hashem Yamani on Tuesday.
Dr. Zamil said that these companies would be reported to the Damascus-based Arab-Israeli Boycott Bureau for blacklisting. He added that the matter would be taken up at Tuesday’s meeting and that the Egyptian companies would be penalized.
“The existence of a free trade zone between Egypt and Israel is itself a violation of commercial relations with the Arab world including the Kingdom.” Such acts, he said would support Tel Aviv when Palestinians are fighting for their rights. He also threatened to recommend the imposition of tariffs on any country which promotes Israeli products.
Dr. Zamil hoped that the establishment of a Supreme Commission for Exports Promotion would be announced next year. “Now the matter has been referred to the Council of Ministers by a study team comprising officials from the ministries of industries, commerce, finance and the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) and SEDC,” he added.
“Although there are no direct imports to Iraq, a substantial quantity of Saudi products can be found in Baghdad. Saudi exports find their way there through the Gulf countries. Our exports to United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Jordan have increased many times, indicating half of Saudi products are being channeled to Iraq through these three countries,” Dr. Zamil noted. Regarding the coming conference, Dr. Zamil said it would be under the patronage of Yamani who will deliver the keynote address.
The president said that non-oil exports had jumped from SR3 billion in 1981 to SR32.4 billion in 2002. “This is an indication of the trend to diversification of the economic base,” he added. In 2004, non-oil exports are estimated to reach SR45 billion. The president said the SEDC had been urging the government to re-define non-oil exports. Once the new definition is made, the volume of exports will automatically jump from SR45 to SR85 billion.
SEDC has released a 341-page manual in Arabic and English. The book was published in cooperation with the Geneva-based International Trade Center and is available free-of-charge to Saudi exporters. “It is an Export Answer Book for small and medium-sized exporters in the Kingdom,” Dr. Zamil explained.