JCCI female candidates seek increased voter participation

A high voting turnout among the younger age bracket is expected in the upcoming 21st elections to the board of directors at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), which will see nine female candidates run for elections.
“We are facing a low voter turnout; only 10 percent of the members of the chamber currently vote,” Rania Salama, a candidate, told Arab News on Monday. “It is very important that everyone participates in the election. Yet this is the voter’s chance to select the right person if (we are) seeking better services,” she added.
She said it is important to know the reason behind 90 percent of voters not voting. “There are very good signals. The business sector is supporting young businesswomen and men, as they feel the need to have them on board,” she added.
Sarah Al-Ayed, who was on the first committee for Jeddah businesswomen, said: “We want people to come and vote. At the end of the day, if they are not happy with something, then they didn’t vote for the right person or did not vote at all.”
Noshin Ehsan, 24, who works for Servcorp in Jeddah, said: “Women and men have to work together for the betterment of society and there should be women in the chamber to support the common woman. Women have lot of potential and only the best will get elected.”
Fatimah Baghdadi said women need more opportunities to achieve success as they have done in several fields. According to her, there is a good chance that Sarah Al-Ayed and Rania Salama will win.
Salama said that Lama Al-Sulaiman and Nashwa Taher were pioneers who led to women’s contribution in chamber activities. “We want women and youth on board because we need those who can understand and represent the issues of women and the young,” she said.
Lama Abdulaziz Al-Sulaiman, who completes her second four-year term next month, said she is moving out to give a chance to younger women because there is need for change. “Two terms are enough to be able to offer some kind of service. However, I realize that the new generation must come in with new innovative ideas to develop the chamber,” she said.
She supports Sarah Al-Ayed and Rania Salama, who have years of experience working in the chamber. “They are young, energetic businesswomen who are interested in developing the business sector,” she added.
According to her, the role of businesswomen in the chamber is as important as businessmen because they are part of the economy in Saudi Arabia. “Whether it is men or women, if we are talking business, it is the same language. So it is not really a gender issue,” she said, adding: “The business community is serious about this.”
A large number of businesswomen are either owners of small and medium-sized businesses or part of family businesses.
Al-Sulaiman said women began taking part in chamber activities in 2005. The board now has three members including herself (elected) and two who have been appointed. She is working hard to get two women elected. “We have been able to achieve acceptance that having women on board could actually make a difference and that they can be as effective as men,” she said.
Marjis Ryweck, who works at a Malaysian marketing company, said women should be on the board so that both sides could be heard. “There are more business opportunities for women in Saudi Arabia and I hope women vote in large numbers to elect more women on board,” she said.