JEDDAH, 17 September 2005 — It’s likely that businesswomen of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) will be the first allowed to vote and run for office in November. Although officials won’t give them preferential treatment, the women have the chance to make their voices heard through the election process.
Nashwa Taher, a businesswoman in Jeddah, welcomed the initiative. “This is a useful step for Saudi women,” she said.
Eight women have so far expressed interest in running, but more may join before the poll starts.
However, Hussa Al-Aun, another Jeddah businesswoman, said there was a plan to nominate only one woman to be supported by all other women members.
Randa Al-Fadhel said the decision allowing women to contest polls would make the election more lively and interesting. She hoped that at least one capable woman would get a seat on the board to take up women’s issues and problems.
Women account for less than 10 percent of the chamber’s 40,000 members, but many businessmen they will be happy to see women make their presence felt in the relatively liberal city, which is also the Kingdom’s main commercial center.
“This move was expected from our wise leadership,” historian Hatoun Al-Fasi said in reference to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
“It should help us catch up with what we missed in municipal elections,” Al-Fasi said. “I hope businesswomen will use this opportunity and that this development extends to other trade chambers of the country.”
Commerce and Industry Minister Dr. Hashem Yamani granted permission for businesswomen to run in the JCCI elections for the first time when they insisted that they want to enjoy the same rights as their male counterparts.
The initiative is largely supported by other chambers across the country who will follow the JCCI elections closely.
Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid, chairman of the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also welcomed the decision. “It provides a historic chance for businesswomen exercise their right to contest chamber elections,” he said.
Earlier this year Saudi Arabia held its first national elections for municipal councils. Women were barred from voting or standing for office because of technical reasons, but officials said they would be allowed to stand in the next vote in four years.
Asked why women had not stood for election before in the Jeddah chamber, an official said it was the first time they had expressed an interest. “They never asked for such a thing in the past, but now things have changed,” he said.
The new move would allow some 3,000 businesswomen in the city to contest for 12 seats on the board alongside their male counterparts from a total of 18 seats. The ministry appoints members to fill the remaining six seats.
Essam Faqeeh, director of a campaign group named “Small Firms,” ruled out the possibility of replacing some of its male candidates with females. He expected that there would be at least five campaign groups.
On the other hand, Yasser Al-Khouli of the “Correction” group expected changes in the structure of future nominations as they will include women candidates. He hoped at least two women could win the polls and hoped that the ministry would appoint two more to make the total number of women members to four. But Mazen Batterjee ruled out the possibility of appointment.
Ziyad Al-Bassam of the “Jeddah” group said the victory of women candidates would depend on their election programs and the response of women members.
JCCI Chairman Ghassan Sulaiman said the participation of women on the JCCI board would boost women’s business in Jeddah and would benefit the national economy, but he ruled out the possibility of reserving seats for them. “We’ll not reserve any seat for women on the board. They can contest and win all the seats,” Sulaiman told a press conference on Thursday.
He said women have actively participated in some of JCCI forums and committees in the past, proving their ability.
Sulaiman pointed out chamber regulations do not differentiate between men and women members. “When the minister saw the interest and enthusiasm of the women to run in the elections, he allowed it,” he said.
The election was delayed until November not only to allow women to contest elections but to allow more businessmen to organize their election bids.
Established in 1948 during the reign of King Abdul Aziz, JCCI is the largest and most influential of the chambers in the Kingdom. Many of its members have held ministerial posts.
Muhammad Abdullah Reza, its first chairman, became the country’s first minister of economy. Adel Faqeeh, another past chairman, is the present Jeddah mayor.
