RIYADH: A prominent Saudi businessman Abdulrahman Ali Al-Jeraisy was conferred here yesterday with the prestigious Japanese decoration, “The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star.” Ambassador Shigeru Nakamura decorated Al-Jeraisy on behalf of the Japanese government. The award is given to foreigners in recognition of their services.
Al-Jeraisy, the vice chief of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce & Industry (CSCCI), is also the chairman of the Saudi-Japanese Business Council.
“It is with great pleasure that I confer the Japan’s national decoration, The Order of the Rising Sun, to Al-Jeraisy, appreciating his continued contribution to the enhancement of the relationship between the Kingdom and Japan,” said Nakamura, while speaking during the award-giving ceremony at his residence.
He said that Jeraisy had strongly supported a number of activities initiated by the Saudi-Japanese Business Council, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Japan Cooperation Center for the Middle East (JCCME).
“Currently, Japan and Saudi Arabia are enjoying friendly and cooperative ties in many fields,” said the Japanese envoy. “However, we should keep in mind that it is the efforts of many dedicated people like Al-Jeraisy that brought the existing level of cooperation between the two nations,” he said, while appreciating his role as the chairman of the Saudi-Japanese Business Council, which was officially established in 1999.
Al-Jeraisy said: “I am very happy to receive this high award and I am indebted to my friends, Saudis and non-Saudis alike, who have joined me in this hour of happiness.”
Al-Jeraisy, who won the board of directors’ election of the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) only a few days ago, said that he would strive to promote Saudi-Japanese relations in all sectors.
The Order of the Rising Sun was established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji of Japan. The badge features rays of sunlight from the rising sun. The awarding of this decoration is administered by the Decoration Bureau of Office of the Japanese Prime Minister. It is awarded in the name of the Japanese emperor and can be awarded posthumously as well. Al-Jeraisy, who was given this decoration, is a leading businessman of Saudi Arabia and currently heads the Jeraisy Group, which has some 11 affiliates under the group.
He is also chairman of the Kingdom’s Raghaba Charitable Society. Al-Jeraisy, in the past, has been awarded several medals and commendations by Saudi and foreign governments including King Abdul Aziz Medal of the First Order conferred on him by the Saudi government.
He also holds an honorary doctorate in Economics from Kensington University and an honorary Ph.D from the University of the Americas.
He was also nominated as the ‘Favorite Muslim Man of the Year for 2000,’ and in 2004 he was nominated ‘Man of the year’ by the American Biographical Institute of the US.
