Amal Al-Sibai Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — The Productive Families Exhibition, inaugurated by Prince Khalid Al-Faisal, Governor of Makkah Province, received a large turn-out from families who aim to venture into their own businesses. The interesting variety of displays is living proof of the creativity, ingenuity, and impressive capabilities of the Saudi people. The exhibition concluded yesterday and many positive outcomes of this special event are expected. Visitors had plenty to see and marvel at, such as hand woven rugs, keepsakes, traditional handicrafts, women's accessories, flower arrangements, and a delicious array of date filled biscuits. The displays that attracted much attention included those exhibiting women's abayas, traditional thobes, bridal gowns, and evening gowns; all designed and made by talented Saudi women. The main goal of this expo was not limited to merely offering a unique shopping experience, but more importantly it was to provide a venue for the productive families to market their products and formulate long-term business agreements with big companies, investors, and prominent Saudi businessmen and women. The idea was to transform low-income families into highly productive families and pave the way for a transition from dependence on the government and others to financial independence. Productive families can lift themselves out of financial precariousness, generate their own wealth, and become an integral part of the turning wheel of the Saudi economy. Relying on locally made products rather than on imports will undoubtedly boost the economy. Reema Engawi reserved a corner at the exhibition to display the accomplishments of a modest boys' youth club that she has started which she aspires to develop into a large scale youth center in Jeddah, hoping for the support and sponsorship of major corporations. On the side-lines of the exhibition, a forum was held and key-note speakers addressed the audience on the first evening. Several helpful lectures and workshops were also held on the two consecutive days after the opening. “This event aims to promote the concept that we are all producers, making every individual active, responsible, and a contributor to the development of our society. Many internationally recognized and popular brand names actually started in the home. “We urge influential persons in the government and private sector to support productive families through each step, including training, funding, loaning, licensing, marketing, counseling, and advertising. A higher committee for productive families under the patronage of the Makkah Governorate is essential to facilitate the legalities and logistics and to provide the guidelines and regulations for home based businesses to follow,” said Sheikh Ahmad Al-Hamdan, chairman of the Corporate Social Responsibility Center at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Olfat Qabbani, businesswoman and board member of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “We have held numerous events and exhibitions, discussed the challenges and strategies, and called for change but to this day we have not met the needs of the productive families and as yet they have not fulfilled their hopes and ambitions. I am optimistic that our leadership through the patronage of a higher committee for productive families will help expand the horizons for these creative and hardworking families, improve their performance and output, and finally advance their initiatives into lucrative businesses. Such enterprises will also serve to open up job opportunities for men, women, and the youth. We are at the threshold of a turning point in history, and we are showing the entire world that the Saudi citizen is not a lay consumer reliant on gasoline for a living; rather he is and she is creative, productive, and responsible.” Before Prince Khalid Al-Faisal began his speech, he held up a key chain given to him at the exhibition by a little girl which was made by her family. Prince Khalid Al-Faisal genuinely thanked all the productive families for their work, expressed his determination to back them, and he said that he will cherish the girl's gift all his life. Several workshops and seminars were held over the course of the last two days and they were free of charge and open to the public. Success stories shone through of young women who started small businesses that then grew and expanded. Alyaa Al-Awfi shared her experience of starting a perfume business and Maha Hasanain related her experiences with the business in home-made sweets and pastries.
