MAKKAH: Social Affairs Minister Yousuf Al-Othaimeen said yesterday that the forum for partnership between public and private sectors, which was opened here yesterday, was aimed at achieving sustained development.
“This forum has both social and economic dimensions,” the minister said. “The realization of actual partnership demands comprehensive work in order to make Saudi Arabia a first world country.”
He said the forum would deepen the concept of social responsibility as an idea and behavior. “We need interaction of government agencies, chambers of commerce, private firms, and the media in order to achieve sustained development, which is our goal and we have to translate into a reality,” he told the opening session of the forum.
Abdul Aziz Al-Khodari, undersecretary at the Makkah governorate, said social responsibility is a new culture for the Saudi society. “But after this forum it should a compulsory work of our society.”
He said the social responsibility falls on both the private and public sectors. “The private sector can play an important role in charitable and voluntary activities,” he pointed out.
Al-Khodari referred to the foreign tours of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, saying they were aimed at attracting foreign investment and creating more jobs for young Saudi men and women.
He said the Makkah province was marching forward with a large number of giant projects.
Al-Khodari urged officials, thinkers and media persons to promote a culture of social responsibility. He urged Al-Othaimeen to transform his ministry from social affairs to social development to match with the ambition of the Kingdom’s leadership.
The Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry organized the forum.
