cum-product show' opened at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) premises Sunday. Products on display by Indian companies ranged from fun items for children to computer software and agriculture machinery. The two-day show was inaugurated by Mazen M. Batterjee, vice chairman of JCCI. Mustafa A. K. Sabri, secretary general of the chamber, told Saudi Gazette that with the support of the leadership of the two countries trade and other relations have been increasing. “The catalog show is a platform for developing and strengthening the bilateral ties further. We are in contact with the Indian Embassy and the Consulate General for extending cooperation in this direction,” he said, and added, “We have arranged the show with pleasure and hope for a good outcome.” In his inaugural speech, Batterjee said that the recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to Riyadh had given a big boost to Saudi-Indian relations. He added that Saudi Arabia was very keen to see this relationship prosper and increase business between the two countries. He said the chamber was pleased to extend all help to develop business activities between the two countries, and was ready to help any Indian company that would like to have joint venture with Saudi counterparts. He hoped that the show will prove fruitful Consul General Sayeed Ahmed Baba said Mazen Batterjee was ‘a friend, philosopher and guide,' and thanked the chamber for giving the opportunity to showcase India. Baba said Mustafa Sabri had “opened up all resources of the chamber” to organize the show. The Consul General said that Jeddah was perhaps the only place and the first place beyond the shores of Indian territory where business between the peoples of the two countries used to take place during the Haj. Indian pilgrims used to bring items for sale here and take back items from the Kingdom for selling in India. “This is the bond that the people of Jeddah share with India for many generations. The catalog show is reinforcing, renewing that age-old tradition and relationship between the two countries and the people. It will help further those age old ties,” he said, and added, “This event is the beginning of a series of more specific business-related activities with the JCCI.” Baba said that this has been a positive year for the Saudi-Indian bilateral relationship because Prime Minister Singh came to visit the Kingdom to renew the old ties. He said the catalog show will help the two economies; the two business fraternities come closer, understand and know each other. Mohammed Rashid Khan, Consul (commercial), thanked the chamber officials for “full support and cooperation,” in organizing the event, the participants, and guests, who included a number of diplomats. Toshimitsu Ishigure, Consul General of Japan, said he was pleased have an opportunity to “see so many varieties of products made in India.” According to him, in future many Japanese companies were likely to invest in India. “Why not make tripartite cooperation – Japan, India, and Saudi Arabia,” he suggested, and added, “Suzuki and Nissan have invested in India and such joint venture products could be sold in the Kingdom.” Ishigure said that such an initiative could promote the three countries' products in each others' countries. Dolph Ramolotsi, Deputy Consul General of South Africa, said he was much impressed by the way the event has been organized, especially in terms of showcasing so many products. Mohammed Rizwan Abidi, deputy general manager (sales), Dabur International Ltd., in Jeddah, said, last year Dabur celebrated 125 years “of health and well-being.” Abidi said Dabur was participating because earlier it had benefitted from such an exposure. He said there was “wonderful” support from the JCCI. He said that Dabur distributor is a company of Bugshan Group, for the last seven years, “when the distributorship changed hands, but we have been in the Saudi market for almost 25 years.” According to him, the company is growing “by leaps and bounds.” In the last four years the growth has been 40 percent at CAGR (combined average growth rate) level. Asked about competition, he said, “We are taking all MNCs head-on, and are maintaining our leadership role in hair oil. We are brand leader in hair oil, are doing wonders in cream, and are now entering into skin care with soaps and other products that are to be launched.” Abidi said the Saudi market size for hair oil is close to SR58 million, hair cream close to SR65m and growing, soap and shampoo market is so huge “I cannot even estimate.” In hair oil, Dabur enjoys around 60 percent share of the market, in cream probably number three or number four player. “Our future plan is to build on the equity what we have today, launch new products and capture the market share as much as possible,” he said. Amna Ismail, of Raheed wedding and evening gowns company, said she has “great respect and admiration” for Indian products and was optimistic of benefitting from the show.
