The facilities provided by the state for the import of goods should supply the local market with a wide variety of products. But there are also obstacles that prevent the smooth entry of imports which leads to the scarcity of some commodities. This can have some adverse effects, the most important of which is the rise in prices at some point of time and goods rotting, damaged or exceeding their expiry dates before they can be taken to the market. The most troublesome scenario currently is the piling up of goods in the Kingdom's ports. For whatever reasons, concerned authorities end up blaming one another. Among the agencies involved in the blame game are the Ports Authority, Customs and at times the government's laboratories. The railways authorities have also been blamed for allegedly not promptly transporting goods from Dammam Port to Riyadh. As a result, the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry has asked traders and importers to submit in writing their remarks on the performance of ports, customs, laboratories and railways authorities and their observations on what causes the delay in the movement of goods to the local market. The reports of traders and importers will be forwarded to the Riyadh-based Experts Commission which was created to study the problem. The result of the study will then be forwarded to the Ministry of Economy and Planning to find a solution which will be incorporated in the 10th Development Plan. The Experts Commission has already met with authorities from several agencies, such as the Ministry of Finance, Saudi Railways Organization, Saudi Ports Authority and the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. This is a laudable move, which is in keeping with government objectives to serve public interests. The government always tries to make the right decision in pursuing development plans for the welfare of citizens. The government's objective is that the country's economic growth will benefit not only businesses but also the citizenry by raising the people's standard of living and giving them the best facilities to make life easier. We look forward to the Experts Commission to come up with the right solution to the problems incurred in importing goods so that the public will have access to a wide variety of fairly priced, high
