JEDDAH: Representatives from various chambers of commerce and industry have rejected a proposal to appoint half of their board members. Delegates from Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam said the Shoura Council had recommended all board members should be elected. The decision was taken at a meeting with the Experts’ Committee of the Council of Ministers, called to discuss the issue.
However, the representatives agreed to change Article 21 of the Chambers Law, which specifies the criteria each board member must fulfill before being appointed.
On Sept. 9 Commerce and Industry Minister Abdullah Zainal Alireza had asked the Cabinet to change Article 16 of the law so that half of the board members would be appointed.
Chamber representatives will meet with officials of the commerce and interior ministries and the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority to make a final decision on the issue, which surfaced following chaotic scenes at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) elections for a new board of directors. As many as 68 candidates disputed the results.
Saleh Al-Turki, former chairman of JCCI, said the proposal would take chambers backward. “We were expecting important decisions from the minister to empower chambers,” he said. Al-Turki said the move to change election systems of chambers in Makkah and Jeddah were aimed at taking control of chambers. Chambers have been successful in solving many of their outstanding problems because of their good relations with various government departments.
