Maher Abbas Saudi Gazette RIYADH — Dates producers and manufacturers have unanimously agreed to establish a unified exporting company. The decision was taken at a meeting at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) here Sunday. The company will tackle all the problems investors face in the industry. Participants tasked a committee to lay out a plan for the establishment of the company, define the company's goals, draw up a strategy and conduct a feasibility study. Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Zamil, Chairman of the RCCI, suggested establishing the company. The company will help in working out the criteria for exported dates to cope with the requirements of the international market. He said Saudi dates are distinguished by its variety, adding this has increased the competitiveness of Saudi produce in the international market. He said the company will promote the date industry in the international market through exhibitions that it will organize in different parts of the world. Addressing the meeting, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, Minister of Commerce, said business owners should look after their own interests and not expect others to do this for them. Participants were also briefed on the participation of date producers in the Fruit Logistica to be held in Germany in February. They stressed the importance of the participation of Saudi date manufacturers in this international exhibition under one umbrella. This will open new avenues for the Kingdom's date produce besides increasing its quota in the international dates market.
