JEDDAH, 13 February — A "Gold from the Holy Land" project to promote Saudi gold and jewelry internationally was launched here last night by the World Gold Council in cooperation with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry and some jewelry manufacturers.
Described as the first of its kind, the campaign launched during the current pilgrimage season will promote industry in general and gold trade in particular in the Kingdom. This is the first stage of the project which will continue throughout the year, Muhammad Ali Al-Harbi, JCCI's commercial affairs department manager, and Usama A. Alwazir, country representative of WGC, told a joint press conference.
The campaign, initially launched in Jeddah, would be eventually extended to other parts of the Kingdom. "The project is a result of growing awareness of investment opportunities under the new Umrah regulations coming into force from the new Hijri year. The tourism sector as well as the gold and jewelry industry could benefit a great deal from the move as pilgrims will come to the Kingdom around the year, Al-Harbi said.
"The Kingdom, which recorded a sales of 221 tons in 2000, an eleven percent increase over 1999, hopes a further by 10 to 20 tons increase this year," Alwazir said, adding that the council's main offices around the world would promote the campaign starting from this pilgrimage season. "The promotion will extend from Japan to the US and from Turkey to South Africa. It will also put the Kingdom on the world tourism map as an important destination."
Aziz Saleh Elothym, president of the L2 Group, said the group was the biggest manufacturer of gold jewelry in the Middle East, and its participation in the campaign was due to the admiration earned by Saudi gold and jewelry worldwide.
Alawi Salem Alawi Al-Khurd, general manager of the Jeddah-based Taiba for Gold & Jewels Co., said his company, which had branches throughout the Kingdom, Dubai, Bahrain and Lebanon, manufactured the biggest ring in the world. "We want to promote the project worldwide," he added.
Ahmad Z. Al-Watban, general manager of the Riyadh-based Suliman Al-Othaim Jewelry Factory, said his company was participating in the campaign "as a gift from the holy land is a gift for ever."
Al-Hada Mineral Water Company and Al-Farsi Maps have also joined the campaign.
