JEDDAH, 29 December 2005 — Abdul Latif Jameel Group and Toyota Motor Corporation celebrated 50 years of their business relations here recently with both sides saying the ties would get stronger in the next 50 years to come. Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda, honorary chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, attended the celebrations.

Mohammed Jameel, chairman of ALJ group, said his company’s activities in the past 50 years were focused on three factors: Creativity, mobilizing interest, and keeping pledges.

“We have also been committed to providing high quality products, distinguished services and objective community-service programs,” he told a ceremony held at Hilton Hotel here.

Jameel attributed ALJ’s achievements to the collaborative teamwork of its staff, confidence of its clients, active participation of the community and, above all, to the blessings of God.

“ALJ is now the largest independent distributor of Toyota cars in the world,” Jameel said, quoting a message from the chairman of Toyota’s board of directors. “While commending your sincere efforts, I am confident that our relations will get stronger in the next 50 years to come,” the Toyota chairman added.

Jameel also explained his company’s future vision for the next 50 years and said it would aim at achieving steady growth, keeping with the ambitions of its partners. He named the company’s clients as guests, its employees as colleagues, and distributors and community members as partners.

Jameel, who made a presentation of the company with Ghafour Rawutar, executive director general for imports and exports, explained the future work ethics of the company. “Respect for all; work for continuous improvement and development will be our principles. We will also try to become pioneers in every field and encourage those who come up with innovative ideas and show strong commitment to work,” the ALJ chief said. He said the company would prepare a team of trained workers to carry out its future plans. “We will also develop our distribution network and expand our community service programs,” he added.

During the presentation Jameel asked his 2,000 staff who were present at the ceremony whether they were prepared to realize the company’s ambitions to receive a resounding “yes”. The ceremony also witnessed top company officials declaring their plans to promote business and encourage employees.

In his address, Toyoda thanked ALJ for its efforts to increase the sales of Toyota cars. He described ALJ as Toyota’s oldest trading partner outside Japan.

He noted the efforts made by Abdul Latif Jameel, founder of ALJ, for promoting Toyota cars in Saudi markets. Toyota now hold more than 40 percent of Saudi automobile market, he pointed out. Toyoda said he expected greater competition between car manufacturers in the coming 50 years and said Toyota was committed to making environmentally friendly cars of top quality at affordable prices.

“Our aim is to win the heart of clients worldwide,” he pointed out. The Toyota chief presented to Jameel the Best Excellence Award, which is given to leading distributors who are excellent not only in sales achievements but also in customer services.

Earlier Toyoda visited the Lexus center in Jeddah, a auto parts warehouse in Al-Khamra, the Saudi-Japanese Automobile High Institute and the Center for ALJ Community Programs.