Saleh Kamel was presented as chairman of the new Jeddah Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors Monday at a reception in which Governor of Jeddah Prince Misha'l Bin Majed Bin Abdul Aziz said the new board's faces would bring “improved economic growth and social prosperity for the city.” Jeddah hopes to see close cooperation between the Chamber of Commerce and the government to realize its development goals as it continues the recovery from the recent flood disaster, Prince Misha'l said. Two months after the JCCI elections, the 17 members finally elected noted businessman Saleh Kamel as chairman, with Mazin Batarji and Lama Soleiman as his deputies, making the latter the first vice chairwoman of a chamber of commerce in Saudi Arabia. “Women need to take their rightful place in society and work hand in hand with men,” Kamel said of Soleiman's new post. Abdullah Bin Mahfouz was elected to represent the JCCI at the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry. In its first meeting, the new board reviewed the work of former chairman Muhammad Al-Fadhl who in turn briefed members on the pending work to be taken up by the board. Board members themselves expressed a will to address the business needs of the city and shoulder greater social responsibility, citing the floods that devastated parts of the southeast of Jeddah and claimed over 113 lives. New chairman Kamel said the JCCI had already sent over 500 volunteers to assist flood-hit residents in east Jeddah, and noted the board's intention to tackle urgent needs such as housing, food, and clothing. He also expressed the board's desire to assist in investigations into the disaster. “The new JCCI board will continue the great work started by former members throughout the years,” Kamel said. “I was the choice of the board and I hope to work with its members for a better future for this great city of Jeddah.” Kamel retains his position as Chairman of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce. Commenting on her new post, Al-Soleiman said that JCCI has ignored gender politics in a business community that caters primarily to the needs of businesspeople and society at large. Everybody has got a business to take care of regardless of gender affiliation, she said. As the city struggles to overcome the consequences of “Black Wednesday,” Al-Soleiman has hailed the help of over 700 female volunteers to distribute food, water, clothes to flood-hit victims, encouraging volunteer work to be a more organized social enterprise. The Jeddah business community has joined hands to shoulder its social responsibility during the flood disaster with donations coming in abundance, she said.
