JEDDAH: A factory exclusively for women will provide 300 jobs including supervisory positions, Engineer Saleem Bin Hindi Al-Harbi, a businessman and member of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Tuesday night. Al-Harbi, who called on businessmen to support women working and open the way for them to prove themselves from the standpoint of social responsibility, said efforts have begun to establish the factory. He also promised young men and women that he would support their serious projects and provide scholarships to those interested in studying abroad. “Suffering has caused me to care for our youth,” he said at a meeting in Jeddah with members of the Saudi Journalists' Association. “The reward for sponsoring and educating a youth is equivalent to that of building a mosque.” Al-Harbi narrated his success story, which began when he was a boy, and said he has benefited from education and hard work. “I started business with a grocery in Al-Jamea District and then a tipper truck for carrying sand when I was 9,” he said. “I continued this work while studying in evening classes until I was admitted to the university. “I escaped from Economics and Administration due to the numerous management terminologies and their definitions. I shifted to Engineering and I was among its first graduates. My work in construction and contracting helped me score high grades in this specialization.” Al-Harbi also spoke about his first innovation, in recycling wood used in building and construction projects. “This idea has saved millions of riyals for the nation,” he said.” The Kingdom is the first in the Middle East in the field of scaffolds and props, thanks to the recycling idea.” Al-Harbi, who is a member of several societies including the Family Protection Society and Uyoon Jeddah Charitable Society, called for a broad effort to boost employment.“We must sense that our support for the work of women and young men is a national effort. Traders and businessmen must have this sense, he said. Addressing the trend of serving the youth in sports through his heading the honorary members in Uhud Club, he said, “The concern of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, encouraged me to accept this request. Sports and education are the most important fields for supporting youths and I support them.” The meeting was attended by Saud Al-Sheikhi, supervisor general of the Ministry of Culture and Information branch in Makkah Region; Engineer Ahmad Al-Attas, assistant chairman of the Saudi Geological Survey; Dr. Sihmi Al-Hajri, member of the Literary Club; Dr. Mahmood Al-Do'aan, head of the Geography Department at King Abdulaziz University; and Fahd Ghaith, chairman of the board of directors of Uyoon Jeddah Charitable Society.
