The five-day event, which is held at the Jeddah Center for Forums and Exhibitions, attracted a large number of youths who came to see the works of their compatriots and learn from them.

“The exhibition aims at encouraging young businessmen and women to enter the area of free enterprises,” said Saleh Kamel, chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI). It will also encourage them to establish independent projects, he added.

Kamel said Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal would address the concluding ceremony on Friday, which will be attended by ministers and senior officials. “Prince Khaled has an intention to develop Jeddah into a city of forums,” he pointed out.

“Our strategy is to support the youth to develop their capabilities and initiatives and help them market and promote their products,” the JCCI chief said.

Kamel said the exhibition could be transformed into an annual international forum like the Jeddah Economic Forum if it was found feasible.

Ziyad Al-Bassam, a member of the JCCI board who supervises the committees for young businessmen and women, said the exhibition would contribute to creating new job opportunities for Saudis. According to a recent report, there are more than a million Saudi job seekers.

“The exhibition is held as part of the JCCI’s support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that represent 85 percent of the chamber’s members,” Al-Bassam said.

He reiterated the chamber’s support for the young entrepreneurs through the Jeddah Business Development Center by providing them with various services such as direct finance, training, guidance and financial and technical consultancy.

“We’ll also provide them with necessary information and help them get their obstacles removed,” Al-Bassam said.

Adnan Mandoura, secretary-general of the chamber, described the exhibition as the largest in the Kingdom to promote projects of young entrepreneurs. “It will also help them receive necessary support from the government and other agencies,” he added.