A Saudi businesswoman could head the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) if elected in the forthcoming board election and met all criteria, said Abdulmalik Al-Sinani, RCCI's Executive Assistant Secretary General. The RCCI is gearing up to organize its board election in November. The RCCI board comprises 18 members, 12 of whom are open for election and six are nominated by the Ministry of Trade. “We have no discrimination against businesswomen who, like businessmen, are equally eligible to participate in the board election and attain the top position if elected with a large enough number of votes, and meet other criteria,” said Sinani without elaborating. Currently, no businesswoman sits on the board, although RCCI's women committee has 12 women members. Sinani said the 2008 board election will implement a full online voting system, expanding the vote to four other RCCI's branches in Dawadmi, Ramah, Wadi Dawasir and Shagra. There are around 60,000 registered voters in 18 different branches. RCCI expects at least a 50-percent turnout on election day in November, he said. “RCCI is the pioneering body in implementing the latest IT technology and taking the election to Riyadh's remote areas in towns and villages,” he said. “We want to educate Saudi businessmen about the benefits of election.” Each business organization could emulate the RCCI's experience and do the same for their own entities by forming labor committees through election, he said. “The labor committee thus formed would help in getting new ideas and benefit the management.” Sinani said there are efficient businesswomen and are very enthusiastic to be the part of RCCI board. There is an economic boom in Saudi Arabia and more number of women are actively engaged in different categories of business, he said. This would be one reason why RCCI needs the participation of women in the board meetings, he added. He said RCCI has been playing a vital role to address the issues of business community in Riyadh. There are several issues pertaining to businesswomen that required proper businesswomen representation in business forum and other such meetings, Sinani said. There are new women entrepreneurs interested in doing business in Riyadh, he said. “This prompts training programs, counseling and guidance on areas of business opportunities available to women in the Saudi Capital.” He said RCCI has a businesswomen committee with office-bearers such as president and vice-president, “but none sits on the board yet.” “We need women members to prepare and mobilize the women members to take an active part in addressing their own issues,” he said. “This can be done through organizing lectures, seminars and workshops to discuss and highlight women's issues.” According to current RCCI rules, there is no fixed quota for women candidates to participate in the board election. However, according to sources, RCCI board election rules are being reviewed, and a new set of laws could be out before this year's election. It is quite possible that all the 18-member board seats might be open for election, the sources said on condition of anonymity. The source said the Trade Ministry-nominated candidates are experienced businessmen with a great degree of knowledge about doing business with international companies. “Opening all seats for election means there is a likelihood of getting inexperienced businessmen into the board, which can prove detrimental to RCCI's interests,” said the source. However, Sinani said a number of workshops are being organized to educate the voters and potential candidates. At least two workshops were also held for businesswomen, he said. __
