JEDDAH, 31 August 2005 — Saudi businesswomen members of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce & Industry (JCCI) will be voting directly for the first time in the forthcoming elections for the chamber’s board of directors, but for some businesswomen that is still not good enough. In previous elections, businesswomen were allowed to vote only through a male legal representative (wakeel). This year they also have the option to vote directly themselves as was the case with the Riyadh Chamber elections held last year.
“Businesswomen who have a trade registration at the chamber and have paid their membership fees three months before the start of candidacy applications procedures can either vote through a wakeel as was done previously or can vote in person by casting their ballots with the women’s committee,” said Yehiya Azzan, president of the supervising committee of the elections.
The minister of commerce and industry, Dr. Hashim Yamani, had issued a decision two months ago forming two committees to supervise the JCCI elections for its next session which begins early October for four years. Azzan heads the general committee representing internal commerce deputy of the Ministry of Commerce and includes Said Al-Otaibi, representing industrial affairs, and Sultan Al-Nahar, representing the Council of Saudi Chambers.
The other committee for women, sub-committee, is headed by Mervat Filimban, who is the director of the newly established women’s department at the Ministry of Commerce, Jeddah branch. She is represents internal commerce, and includes Fatima Al-Sheikh for industrial affairs and Nihad Al-Subaiei for CSC, both from Riyadh.So far twenty men have nominated themselves for the JCCI board of directors elections, but no women because they are not allowed. It is to this some businesswomen object to.
“That will be voting in person is a good step, but as usual we are being sidelined,” said Alia. She referred to the previous decision made to allow the female members to choose three women to represent them in the board of directors meetings, but then they were told that these women will only act as consultants. “Was it just propaganda for the media? What is the point of attending monthly meetings, that waste three hours of our busy schedule at the businesswomen’s council in the chamber to discuss ways of supporting businesswomen but have no influence or authority to make any changes,” said Banaja.
Hessa Al-Oun and others are frustrated and disappointed with the limited role they are given. Even the businesswomen’s council is headed by a man and includes three other men who actually represent the women in the board meetings. Banaja would like to be able to change some of the regulations and systems that hinder businesswomen such as permitting women to participate in international conferences, foregoing the wakeel and opening the industrial sector for women’s investment.