Businesswoman Nayla Hasan Attar has organized in tandem with the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) a program to promote election awareness with a series of symposiums and workshops to be held at the JCCI between June 20 and July 1. More than 2,000 chamber members are expected to attend the event which Al-Attar said was aimed at preparing members of the chamber for its elections in October. “It is an awareness program, directed at the 42,000 members of the chamber's General Assembly, to promote the largest possible turnout,” Al-Attar said, adding that she had received backing for the initiative from the JCCI Board of Directors. The program will highlight the role and responsibilities of government councils such as the Shoura Council and municipal councils, as well as the role expected from commercial chambers' boards of directors. “Lessons will be learnt through the discussion and assessment of previous elections as well as the influence of business on decision making in the economic sector and the systems for voting, electing and nominating,” Al-Attar said. Complementary workshops will address candidate “skills for success” and also discuss impediments to the involvement of women in the work of councils. Experienced figures will look at campaign preparation and techniques, such as how to build a campaign supporting network, select a campaign team and conduct a campaign media plan.
