JEDDAH, 15 February 2005 — The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) is to provide 15 new direct services besides other indirect services to its members, according to Saud O. Ounallah, general director.

“This is the first time in the history of chambers in Saudi Arabia that such a step is being taken,” Ounallah told Arab News at the JCCI before the announcement of the program at a press conference yesterday.

Ounallah explained that chambers were usually labeled as a place where fees were charged without providing any service in return. “We want to change that image and the new measure is part of the new strategy and reorganization of JCCI,” he added.

He said that earlier, people used to wonder why they should pay fees without receiving any service. “This, of course, was a misunderstanding or misrepresentation because even then the chamber was a service-oriented entity, and the service was directed toward the members and the business community,” he explained.

“We used to provide benefits. For example, we were providing information to authorities to enable them to ease the procedures and cut the red tape on the business sector. These benefits were intangible. The member did not feel it directly in spite of the fact that it was of major value,” he added.

“Now, we are not only providing services, but tangible benefits that the member can really feel. The new services that will be provided to 32,000 members are services with a certain value,” he said.

Ounallah said the objective of the new program is to provide services and tangible benefits that would far exceed, in value, the fees that the members are paying to the chamber. He estimated that, for example, for the services to the Category IV members who pay SR300 a year, the value would exceed SR1,500.

One of the most important tangible services for the small business, for instance, would be to have a free half-an-hour consultation with different centers at the chamber. If they have a problem in the area of finance, manpower, Saudization, or management, they would be able to approach the related center, which would be able to give them proper advice. Another service is providing everyone with a card called Bayt Al-Tijara, which is a discount card that has a lot of direct tangible benefits, direct free services and also have discounts in major shops, hotels, and the like. One to five such cards would be provided depending on membership category.

The other service is providing a free directory of all the members — printed as well as on CD. Certain categories would be provided free advertisements in the chamber’s magazine — Tijara, or in an additional form.

Arrangements have been made with service providers to lend their services at a discounted rate to the members. For example DHL would have a desk at the chamber to provide passport office services at a “very discounted rate.”

There will be other five service offices that would be able to provide services in all the different government departments at “excellent discounted rates.”

Also, contracts have been signed with consulting houses to provide consultation at a very low rate. “This was originally thought of for the small and medium enterprises (SMEs), but is made available for all the 32,000 members. We have a legal office to provide advice at a discounted rate,” Ounallah said.

The Excellent Category members would also be able to use meeting rooms at the chamber. “There would be certain rules and regulations for using these places. But we try to make things very easy,” he said. Members will receive coupons for the services that they will be getting. At the Economic Library, which has been improved a lot, members can use the Internet.

“We are trying to change the view and the perception of the chamber from being a passive organization into a proactive organization, which provides value-added services and makes sure that if you pay any fee you will be able to gain twice, three times, or five times as much,” he explained.

He urged members to renew their membership, and invited those who are not members to become members and enjoy the services, and gain much more than what they pay. “More important is to have the umbrella of the chamber to receive services and protection against any misconduct or convey their problems to the decision makers for appropriate action. This is our major initiative. We will deliver on our promise,” he stressed.

Ounallah said that the chamber started with creating a one-stop shop for all the members, called the members’ department. This was the first service provided to gain the satisfaction of members. Then it began creating a program to provide services to members according to their membership category of which there are five. “Now becoming a member is paying off,” he said.