JEDDAH — Businesswomen in the Kingdom have come a long way in their presence and participation in the Saudi chambers of commerce. However, the road ahead is still long. It has only been a few years since women were allowed into the premises of the chambers and since then they have established themselves as an integral part of the business scene and the Kingdom’s development.
Challenges remain in expanding their activities and growing their businesses but they have their first step firmly on the road and are looking toward setting strategies and achieving goals.
Perhaps leading the way for others, businesswomen in Jeddah were the most active and vocal in their demands for real participation and presence in the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. With the support of Princess Adelah bint Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and the permission granted by Prince Abdul Majeed, governor of the Makkah Region, the Businesswomen’s Committee was established in 2002. Two years later in 2004 the committee became a full-fledged support center, the Khadija bint Khuwailid Center for Businesswomen.
“Having such prominent figures as a part of the board of trustees gives great insight into the development and growth of women in Saudi society within Jeddah and will guide them with their points of view and visions,” added Princess Adelah at the official launch of the center on Nov. 28, 2004, at the JCCI. The first general manager of the center, Nadia Baeshen, said at the opening that the objectives of the center include supporting business growth, opening means for communication and debating on the role of women in the work force. “We are keen to see ourselves supporting the training, educational and experience-sharing opportunities to further support the economic growth of the region, said Baeshen.
Recalling those days before the committee, Madawi Al-Hassoun, one of the founding members, said that businesswomen were marginalized.
“Before the committee, the chamber was not interested in involving businesswomen. There was no database of businesswomen and even when foreign delegations came the chamber would invite female academics to meet them,” she told Arab News.
The businesswomen approached Prince Abdul Majeed with a study of their situation and their needs, at the top of which was having a center for them that establishes their identity. Once the committee was approved, they continued their demands for a center and at the first general assembly meeting under the then new chairman of JCCI Adel Fakieh, the JCCI head promised them the center and within a week they had a location at the JCCI itself.
Once the center was well established and active, they pushed for their right to participate in the upcoming board of directors election in 2005 not only as voters but as candidates, and they got what they wanted. Two businesswomen candidates won and two others, including Al-Hassoun, were appointed by the Ministry of Commerce.
“The center now acts as an advocate of women’s interests. Every businesswoman can now benefit from the various services provided by the chamber. We lobby for businesswomen’s rights and push for changes especially regarding the obstacles that face businesswomen in the private sector and with government administrations,” she said.
The same year, Khadija Center, a businesswomen center at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also opened as well as an administration for the affairs of businesswomen at the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI). While the businesswomen’s center in Riyadh focuses more on providing services, consultations, training and awareness programs, the administration for businesswomen’s affairs aims at bolstering women’s investments.
“Our goal is to activate women’s role in investment. We identify the things that could better serve her interests and investments and facilitate her business with the local chambers and abroad,” said Majedah Al-Oni, general manager of the businesswomen’s affairs administration.
The CSCCI represents Saudi chambers inside and outside the Kingdom, therefore the administration works on behalf of the businesswomen in the chambers. Furthermore, the Council of Ministers approved the formation of a National Women’s Committee that would participate in delegations sent abroad and coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in receiving foreign delegations. This is also part of the administrations activities. “We follow up on the implementation of all the decisions and activities concerning women. As part of the CSC, our administration is connected to and involved with all the other administrations in the council,” Al-Oni told Arab News.
As a private government institution, CSCCI acts as a link between investors and the other sectors.
The Jeddah and Riyadh chambers and the CSCCI have made great strides in involving businesswomen and other chambers are following in their footsteps.
A year ago the Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry established a center for businesswomen and six months later the center had its own board of directors. Before the center, businesswomen were completely absent from taking part at the Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“During the year we tried to establish the center as a service support for businesswomen and encourage the businesswomen to register with it and seek its services,” said Nisreen Qatan, former director and founder of the businesswomen’s center in Madinah.
Through seminars and workshops, the center informed businesswomen of the different investment opportunities available to them: how to start a small business and what are the regulations concerning women’s businesses.
A similar experience occurred at the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry where a businesswomen’s center was established 18 months ago. Before the center, there was a women’s committee that acted mainly as a consultant without any real executive administration or authority.
“We have been trying to establish businesswomen’s confidence in the center and communicate their opinions to the relevant authorities and expand their horizons on their rights and opportunities,” said Hana Al-Zaher, the director of the businesswomen’s center in the Eastern Province.
“However, both sides, the chamber and the businesswomen, need to insist on continuing and cooperating in order to better serve both their interests,” she added. Perhaps what Al-Zaher pointed to is the key to Saudi businesswomen’s progress, confidence, persistence and cooperation.
