Mazen Batterjee (middle), Vice President, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Nashwa Taher (right), chairperson of the Strategic Commercial Committee at JCCI and JCF 2013; and Dr. Hussam Al Angari, member of Shoura Majlis and representative of King Abdulaziz University, during the press conference Tuesday at the JCCI headquarters. Saleh Fareed & Samar Yahya Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – The third edition of the Jeddah Commercial Forum (JCF) 2013, to be held on April 20-22 under the theme “Enabling National Trade with the Global Competitive Criteria”, will address various aspects of the phenomenon of cover-up business, its adverse impact on the economy and the ways to get rid of it, the Strategic Commercial Committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), organizers of the event said Tuesday. Under the patronage of Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, the Forum has the support of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, which is the forum's strategic partner, and in cooperation with the Faculty of Economic and Administration at King Abdul Aziz University (KAU), the forum's knowledge partner. Jeddah Governor Prince Mishal Bin Majed will open the Forum. At a press conference at the JCCI headquarters, Mazen Batterjee, Vice President - Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said “the 3rd Jeddah Commercial Forum 2013 comes as one of the major forums that Jeddah hosts yearly.” He said “Jeddah has become one of the most prominent cities for forums and events in the Middle East and we at JCCI strive hard to develop the trade and commercial industry by holding such forums.” He pointed out that Jeddah has hosted 36 exhibitions and 6 major forums for the last year. The forum will attempt to resolve some of the commercial problems faced by businessmen along with a number of issues of vital interest to all the members of the JCCI, he said. Nashwa Taher, chairperson of the Strategic Commercial Committee at JCCI and JCF 2013, the three-day event will focus mainly on combating shrouded or cover-up business. Speaking about the cover-up business which is the main issue of this year's event, she said “the phenomenon has become a major source of concern for a majority segment of Saudi businessmen, besides creating economic pressure and an uneven competitive situation. Even though the government has made a lot of efforts to combat this phenomenon, it still poses a potential challenge,” while emphasizing the need for exerting collective efforts to reduce its impact on the Kingdom's economy as well as on social, legal and political life. She announced that the forum, divided into five sessions, will host a group of renowned and pioneer speakers in their respective fields. She noted that the forum will be a success story of a strong and cohesive coordination between the public and private sectors in the commercial industry. According to the forum's list, Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry Tawfiq Al-Rabeeah will be the keynote speaker in the first session on cover-up business. Ayman Al-Fadel, professor of economics at KAU, will speak on the current situation of cover-up business (concept, growth and causes), while Abdul Aziz Diyab of KAU will present a paper on economic impact of cover-up business and Abdullah Bin Marai Bin Mahfouz will speak on its social and legal impact. In the second session under the theme of “Policies of Saudization and the Gap of Skills in the Employment Market”, Saudi Labor Minister Adel Fakieh is the keynote speaker. Dr. Hussam Al Angari, member of Shoura Majlis and representative of King Abdulaziz University, said “It was very important to nominate the best speakers of such major issue and we succeeded to get the well-known names who will discuss ways to promote the economic development of the country.” Moreover, other sessions of the forum will discuss various aspects of “Mediation as an Alternative Solution to Disputes,” “Competitiveness of Saudi Ports and the Transportation Logistics,” and “Just Competitiveness” in the wake of growing practices that are harmful to the Saudi and Gulf economy and trade. The Jeddah Commercial Forum is held every two years.
