JEDDAH: A dispute involving a claim of SR100 million by the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) from its counterpart in Jeddah remains unresolved.

While the chamber in Makkah has claimed that it has demanded the amount from the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), the head of the JCCI Saleh Kamel has reportedly said that he has received no such notification.

The dispute is over an investment in a warehouse area in Jeddah owned by the Ports Authority. The JCCI had reportedly invested in 2 million square meters and the MCCI in 1 million square meters.

It had been agreed that the JCCI would manage and operate these investments for a fee of 10 percent, while paying the MCCI its dues. The MCCI has claimed that the JCCI has failed to pay them profits amounting to SR100 million accrued over three years.

Kamel reportedly on Tuesday accused the MCCI of making these threats through the media and not sending any notification to the JCCI. He said that the threats made by the MCCI had forced him to seek the intervention of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and Commerce and Industry Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabeah.

Kamel said that if agreement could not be reached, then the matter should be resolved through the courts. “I have been greatly saddened made by the comments made by the Makkah Chamber about the differences it has with its Jeddah counterpart,” said Kamel.

He said he “directly responsible” and was forced to write to Prince Khaled and the commerce minister about the dispute, including a recommendation that the matter should be resolved by the courts. “Our brothers in the Makkah chamber have made threats and they know that the courts are not places for threats and the rights of everyone are guaranteed,” he said.

“I can assure you that no notice has been received by our chamber and I can only say it’s shameful,” said Kamel in response to claims that the MCCI had already sent 30 letters to the JCCI demanding the money.