JEDDAH: Fifty children were provided small shops at a local mall here as part of a program to teach youngsters about running their own businesses.

The children were seen selling various products on Thursday including snacks, sweets, clothes, accessories and perfumes at the event organized by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).

Ziad Al-Bassam, vice chairman of the JCCI, who opened the three-day event earlier in the week, said that young people were the country’s future traders and should develop their skills at an early age.

Bandar Al-Amudi, director of the Youth Foundation and executive project manager of the Entrepreneurship Education Program for Young Children, said the main aim is teach them the basic skills of business, so that they can understand the challenges they will face in future.

The mini market has been set up over 200 square meters with a variety of shops. Al-Amudi said that they selected 50 children out of 600 aged between 10 and 15, from grades three and four. They are from schools across the city.

The JCCI has urged the Ministry of Education to include entrepreneurship as a subject at primary schools. Mazen bin Mohammed Batterjee, vice chairman of the JCCI, made the suggestion at the launch of the program earlier this week.