JCCI promotes bilateral ties

The business community in Jeddah has been playing an active role in promoting and strengthening bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and its allies, said Saleh Kamel, chairman of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).
The prominent businessman said that the JCCI was working closely with foreign delegates and diplomatic missions to forge relations, stating that the business community in the Kingdom was instrumental in spreading the message of peace and dialogue as propagated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.
“Ramadan is a month which brings out the best of human values through gestures of peace and charity, which the JCCI believes in,” Saleh Kamel said, addressing a large gathering of diplomats and businessmen on the eve of sahoor hosted by the JCCI on Monday.
He said that the JCCI was open to dialogue for better understanding of the requirements of foreign business communities and their Saudi counterparts to promote economic ties.
Director-General of the Saudi Foreign Ministry in the Makkah province, Mohammed Ahmed Tayeb, praised Jeddah’s business community and complimented it for being the bridge between the Kingdom and foreign countries.
He urged the business community to pay particular attention to the African continent, which offered tremendous trade opportunities.
Stating that it was commendable that foreign delegations were keen on interaction with the JCCI, Ahmed Tayeb said that US President Barack Obama was the inspiration for Africa following the changes he has brought about in the economic scenario in the US. Similarly, Nelson Mandela was also a role model for many developed nations, and South Africa is a country that has changed its perception of economic development.
Chairman of Honor Consuls in Jeddah, Mohammed Attar, said that JCCI played an important role in Honor Consuls System in the Red Port city, which is he largest in the Middle East region.
Speaking on the occasion, South African Consul General Mohammed Idris highlighted the various advantages for Saudi businessmen to invest in Africa. He also urged Saudi businessmen to pray for Nelson Mandela, who is critically ill, in the month of Ramadan. “July 18 has been declared as Mandela Day by United Nations and I request Saudis to follow it,” he said.
Prominent businessmen and consuls general of various countries attended the event.