QATIF, 31 January 2006 — A group of businessmen and others gathered to discuss the effect of the upcoming elections of the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Jan. 24.
The meeting afforded an opportunity for nominees to the leadership of the EPCCI to discuss their views on the importance of forging ties between business and society as a whole.
The meeting was presided over by Qatif Municipal Council President Jaafar Al-Shayeb who, in his opening speech, exalted the electoral process.
Shayeb is head of one of the 178 recently formed municipal councils. Men, in a move that has been widely hailed as a step toward a more democratic process in the Kingdom, elect half of the members of these councils. Women have been promised participation in future municipal elections.
The EPCCI elections include women candidates, and women members will be allowed to cast their ballots.
Shayeb stressed on the importance of considering the social matters and people’s needs in the election process.
Salman Al-Jishi, one of the businessmen who have been nominated for the EPCCI elections, championed the importance of the chamber’s social committees, such as the Red Crescent Committee that works with the Saudi Red Crescent Society.
Ali Al-Mula, a chamber member, pointed out the need for candidates to have a clear vision for the future of the chamber.
“The Chamber of Commerce is one of the oldest and most important social institutions in the area,” says chamber member Zaki Abu Al-Saud.
“For a great period of time its role was within merchandising only, but it has started to show more social concern.”
As for the Saudization of jobs in the Kingdom, Gasan Al-Nimr, a businessman and one of the nominees, talked about his experience in employing Saudis, especially women, in the areas of design, production and marketing of gold jewelry.
Muhammad Al-Osais, another nominee, took the opportunity to support the chamber’s efforts to employ Saudi youth and help people with physical disabilities.
Bakr Hussain, a Saudi Aramco official who attended the gathering, stated that the participation of women in the elections and management of activities is an important thing. He also stressed the need for accurate and thorough background checks on all candidates so that chamber members can cast informed votes.
Abdulbari Al-Dakel, a writer, pointed out the importance of having educational programs and lectures in different areas and not only in the main center of the chamber to enable everyone to benefit.
Youth welfare also became a great concern in the meeting when Ibrahim Ismail, a businessman, talked about the role of the chamber in organizing sport and educational programs for them and helping sport clubs that suffer weakness.
