The election process for board membership of the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry, one of the most important business bodies in Saudi Arabia, has started with calls for nominations.

The deadline for nominations is Sept. 16, with the date for the elections to be announced after Eid Al-Adha.

The Eastern Province is a hub of industrial activities, especially the port city of Dammam. The chamber is a large body representing trade and commerce in several major cities including Alkhobar, Dammam, Dhahran, Jubail, Qatif, Al-Khafji and Hafr Al-Batin. The chamber, commonly known as Ghurfa Asharqia, has 40,000 members.

The nomination process opened a few days ago, but sources told Arab News no one has filed papers yet. However, prospective candidates have been visiting the election commission's office at the chamber in Dammam. Nominations can also be filed on the chamber's website.

Candidates should be at least 30 years old. However, if the contestant holds a business management degree, the age bar is relaxed to 25. This can be lowered further at the discretion of the minister of commerce and industry based on the merits of the case.

With the call for giving young blood a chance gaining currency in various chambers of the Kingdom, several senior and prominent businessmen are having a tough time. The situation is no different in Dammam.

Prominent Eastern Province businessman and current chairman of the body, Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed, is under pressure from a section of the business community. Al-Rashed, however, insists he would be in the fray for a fourth term.

Like the rest of the Kingdom, the participation of women is poor in the Eastern Province. Last year, only 67 of the 896 eligible women voters exercised their franchise, with no woman winning a seat on the board. Subsequently, the minister nominated two women to serve as members on the board of directors.

In the last elections, Abdullah Al-Ammar, who is vice-chairman of the chamber, secured 833 votes, the highest number recorded in the poll.