The chambers of commerce of Makkah and Jeddah are meeting Wednesday to strengthen cooperation between the two bodies and to seek new investments for the Western region. The meeting between the members of the board of the Makkah Chamber for Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and the Jeddah Chamber for Commerce and Industry (JCCI) will take place at Marbia Hall in Makkah. Dr. Abdullah Ahmad Zainal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, will also be present at the meeting. Talal Abdulwahab Mirza, chairman of the MCCI's board of directors, said the meeting is aimed at opening up channels of communication and cooperation to “create a new investment environment” in the region. Maher Jamal, a spokesman of the MCCI, emphasized the importance of the event. “We are planning to hold a Makkah Investment Forum for the first time, which requires us to be ready with ideas and initiatives from all businessmen in the commerce and industrial sectors.” He said that the chamber also plans to discuss Islamic finance at the forum, which will include the participation of both Saudi and foreign businessmen. According to Jamal, the MCCI will tap the experience of businesspeople in Jeddah, in setting up their own exhibitions and international business events. Ziad Muhammad Jamil Farsi, vice chairman of the MCCI board, said cooperation between the two cities was vital to attract investment.
