Fatima Muhammad Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — A member of the exhibition committee at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry criticized the lack of participants at their regular meetings. The member, who introduced himself as Musaid, said though there are 20 members in their committee, only three to five tend to attend the regular meetings. He said many members started not to come to the meetings because all suggestions and complaints they raise do not receive any solutions or feedback from JCCI officials. He said: “Many members say they prefer to remain in their work and not show up at JCCI meetings because none of their suggestions or demands are being taken into consideration. “We have raised challenges that face us and asked for a meeting and made our recommendations but we did not receive anything, not even an apology.” Musaid also complained about neglect from the exhibition committee, adding all exhibitions set by the JCCI should be referred to his committee for approval before it goes to an outside association. This, he said, will increase the level of transparency. The JCCI member was speaking at an open discussion during the annual meeting for JCCI board members where the chamber's annual financial report was announced. Saleh Kamel, chairman of the JCCI, agreed with the comment. He said low attendance is not registered in committee meetings alone but also in the annual meeting. He said: “There is a general absence of care and attention. “You call people for a meeting and they do not show up or even apologize. “You can just take the annual meeting as an example. The number of attendees here is shameful; all businessmen and members of JCCI committees should have shown up today.” Kamel was addressing the audience, who did not even fill the first few rows of JCCI's Ismail Abu Dawood Hall. Answering another question regarding a call from the Consumer Protection Society for all traders to pay money to the society in order for the organization to pursue its activities, Kamel said the chamber has objected to this suggestion. He added that it would not be appropriate because the society cannot monitor traders and then take money from them, as that would result in a conflict of interest. He said if this happens the society will lose its credibility and value. Meanwhile, the JCCI has announced Saturday at its annual meeting that two business centers worth SR700 million will be established next to its headquarters. Kamel said SR200 million of the budget is generated from the JCCI income, while the rest will be financed by Al-Jazira Bank. The buildings will have 40 floors each. Other projects include establishing a business development center, a center for national and foreign deals, as well as establishing companies in Jeddah, Taif, Al-Laith and Qunfudah. JCCI also announced that its annual budget this year has exceeded SR163.5 million. Expenditure was SR156.6 million.
