Workshop on estimators at Modon

JEDDAH: The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has conducted a workshop recently on the Saudi Commission for Accredited Estimators and another on “Challenges and Opportunities” at the headquarters of the Saudi Industrial Property Authority (Modon) in Riyadh.
Commerce and Industry Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, who is chairman of Modon’s board of directors, officials from related government departments, academics and businessmen and women attended the workshops.
The participants discussed international experiences in the field of estimation in the Kingdom, proposals for enhancing the mission of the newly established commission of estimators, and the need for developing a set of criteria for making estimation.
The meeting also emphasized the need for conducting training courses for estimators in order to help them carry out their duties efficiently and perfectly. “Estimators should be tested and given accreditation in order to improve the quality of their work,” a statement issued after the workshop said.
The participants believed that the new commission of estimators would be a valuable addition, playing a significant role in strengthening the Kingdom’s economy, especially after the issuance of the Mortgage Law.
Minister Al-Rabiah has appointed Essam bin Hamad Al-Mubarak, secretary-general of the Saudi Commission for Accredited Esti-mators. Al-Mubarak has previously held several important positions in the ministry, including trade attaché in Geneva; director general of external trade; adviser to former minister Osama Faqeeh; assistant deputy minister for industry; and chairman of various national and international committees and councils.
A number of realtors and businessmen and women, meanwhile, expressed their happiness over the formation of the new commission and hoped it would reorganize the real estate sector, adding value to the national economy and making estimation a real profession.