Leading Saudi businessman and President of "Dallah Al-Baraka Group," Saleh Abdullah Kamel, was Tuesday elected President of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), Saudi Gazette reported today. The post had fallen vacant following the death of Ismail Abudawood, the doyen of business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who was chairman of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) for 37 years. Abudawood was chosen for the ICCI post in 1992. It was for the first time that the candidate was elected through secret ballot held in Jeddah. Under ICCI rules, the eldest of Abudawood's deputies, Dr. Rateb Al-Shalah, head of the Syrian Chamber, has been holding the post of president as a caretaker. With the election of Kamel the Islamic chambers get a prestigious figure to head the organization. Aqeel Jasem, ICCI secretary general, told a press conference earlier Tuesday that the 43rd executive Islamic chamber session will be held later this month in Jeddah. "I hope that the [43rd] session will be successful, especially with the facilities provided by the Kingdom for the 17 members of the Islamic chambers," Jasem said. Statistics show that the export rate of the ICCI members rose from 10. 6 percent in 2001 to 12.1percent in 2003. The value increased from $52.8 billion in 2001 to $74. 2 billion in 2003.
