JEDDAH, 25 October 2007 — The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) will soon set up a special department to expedite the issuance of foreign recruitment visas required by private companies.

Adnan Mandoura, director of the business sector at the chamber, said the JCCI has presented a proposal to the Labor Ministry in this respect to get its approval. According to the proposal, the chamber will study visa applications of companies and their actual requirements, and make its recommendations to the ministry.

“This proposal will help reduce the difficulties of businessmen and investors seeking work visas to carry out their projects,” he said, adding that specialists would study visa applications of companies and specify the number of visas required by each company to carry out its projects. The Labor Office will then endorse the department’s recommendation and issue the necessary number of visas without delay.

Mandoura said the chamber would announce the establishment of the new department soon after obtaining the approval of Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi.

He said the new proposal was in line with the chamber’s role as the main driving force of business in the city and as a mediator between businessmen and government departments.

The new JCCI move comes in the wake of complaints from businessmen and women regarding difficulties in obtaining recruitment visas required for running their new businesses and investment projects.

Mandoura emphasized the importance of skilled manpower for the management and success of any business. “Businessmen play a significant role in the Kingdom’s Saudization drive,” he added.

According to statistics published by the Ministry of Labor, the number of visas issued in Rajab (July-August 2007) rose by 47 percent to 103,697 visas compared to the same month in the previous year.

In statements published recently, Saudi businesswomen said a lack of recruitment visas was one of the main obstacles facing investment projects.

“There are a lot of lucrative business and investment opportunities for women in the Kingdom,” said Hanadi Mirza, a businesswoman. “But the difficulty in receiving license and lack of visas are obstructing their investment plans.”

Nadiya Muhammad, who runs a number of tailoring shops for women, urged government support for women to carry out small-scale and medium business projects.