The Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) is a praiseworthy organization. In a very short period of time it has left a significant and beneficial mark on Saudi Arabia’s investment climate. It has attracted many businessmen to the Kingdom unlike the many ministries and sectors related to internal and external commerce and investment.
It seems to be the only governmental organization that managed to consistently avoid taking one step forward and two steps backward.
Everyone agrees that we need to work harder to follow international trends in trade and commerce. Many believe that we aren’t advancing as well as we should. But I have to ask: What have we done to help advance the business climate in the Kingdom? What have we done to facilitate investment procedures and legislations for businessmen and women? What enticements have we offered to encourage foreign investment and to employ the nation’s millions of young men and women eager to enter the workforce? The answers to these questions I fear are, more often than not, long idealistic speeches with little action.
Women are entering the education field more than ever before, but the business climate is working against them when they try to open a business. It seems the only license that’s easy for them to obtain is a permit to open a tailoring business. I welcome all Saudi women to the world of sewing and alterations, because that seems to be the only business license that is easy for them to obtain.
Allow me to tell you the story of a woman I know who tried to get a business license to open her own factory for making sweets. She could obtain the license within hours, but by using the name of her non-Saudi friend. Her friend was her African housemaid. How can we progress if it’s easier for a foreign domestic servant to get a business license than a Saudi national?
