JEDDAH, 18 June 2006 — After signing an import contract with the Islamic Development Bank, Al-Jaberi Company, specializing in trading and importing livestock, is studying becoming a public shareholding company. Owner of the company, Sulaiman Said Al-Jaberi, said that his company was conducting economic, technical and financial studies to transform it into a shareholding company after fulfilling all the legal and procedural requirements.
Al-Jaberi won the bid for the Kingdom’s Utilization of Sacrificial Meat project under the supervision of IDB whereupon for the first time the project was awarded to one importer. For this year’s Haj, 700,000 head of live sheep that are Shariah and veterinary compliant, are needed at a total estimated value of SR240 million. Al-Jaberi outbid eight national companies for the contract.
The livestock shipments will arrive at Jeddah Islamic Port according to a pre-set time-schedule to cover the Saudi market’s needs and that of the project. Al-Jaberi signed the contract with IDB president, Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali.
The company has 30 years experience and owns vessels for transporting imported livestock and has a reputation and the qualified human resources for it to become a public company. “Winning the bid for the Utilization of Sacrificial Meat project indicates our experience and ability in this field,” said Al-Jaberi.
The project’s priority is the full and optimal utilization of sacrificial meat and of other parts of a carcass that are fit for direct human consumption, such as the heart and the liver. The IDB makes arrangements with suppliers for the provision of casual and seasonal butchers and other supporting labor, as well as the tools required for the slaughtering, skinning, cleaning, packaging, storing and preparing the carcasses for distribution. Local contractors also undertake the care and maintenance of the slaughterhouses, under the supervision of the IDB, in order to keep them safe, efficient and ready for operation. Cleaning services are provided by Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs (Makkah Al Mukarramah Municipality) through yearly contracts with competent companies. A large number of the public security forces participates in the project to guarantee safety and security at the slaughterhouses while in operation.