JEDDAH, 8 March 2005 — New Jeddah Mayor Adel Faqeeh said he would adopt a three-pronged strategy to improve services in the city by preserving existing achievements, completing planned projects and introducing new ideas. He was talking to reporters after meeting with former Mayor Abdullah Al-Muallami and heads of departments at the municipality.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd named Faqeeh as Jeddah mayor on Sunday. “I’m aware of the great responsibility and I’ll do my best in the service of Jeddah’s people,” Faqeeh said. “I will use my expertise in the private sector for the benefit of the public,” Okaz daily quoted him as saying.

Faqeeh said he would make use of the experiences of Al-Muallami and other mayors such as Khaled Nahhas of Makkah. “Transparency, truthfulness and lucidity would be the hallmarks of my methodology,” he added.

Meanwhile, the board of directors of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) will meet toward the end of this month to elect a new chairman following the appointment of Faqeeh, its current chairman, as mayor.

Ghassan Al-Suleiman, JCCI’s deputy chairman, said the board, which will meet after three weeks, would endorse the financial statement for the last fiscal year and approve the budget for the current year.

Faqeeh, a prominent businessman in Jeddah, has been JCCI chairman since May 2003. Suleiman commended Faqeeh’s “great services” to the business community in the city.

Despite his new role, Faqeeh will continue as chairman of Savola Group, the company said yesterday. However, the Savola’s board has named Dr. Abdul Raouf Mannaa as its new managing director in place of Faqeeh.

“The resolutions taken by the board are aimed at securing the optimal organization that utilizes the vast experience of Faqeeh and to complement the seasoned executive team already in place,” a Savola statement said.

“The board takes this opportunity to congratulate Faqeeh on this royal trust and welcome Dr. Mannaa in his new role as managing director of the group, wishing both all the success,” the statement added.

Mannaa, who holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Washington University, has held a number of positions in Savola since he joined the group 15 years ago. Currently, he is president of the group’s food, investment and IT divisions.