The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) has identified 14 projects most of which are related to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and home-based businesses, according to Mohammad A. Alfadl, JCCI board member, who is also member of the Economic and Social Circle (ESC) at the Makkah Governorate. "These will open up opportunities for women working out of their homes. Each project will identify its cost and will be self-financing," he told Arab News here last week. He added that of the 14 projects, some would be for the JCCI and some others for the ESC. He was commenting on a wide-ranging agreement signed by the chamber and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Beirut, on Sunday. Alfadl, who is also vice-chairman of Alfadl Group, which acts as coordinator between the JCCI and ESC and ESCWA, termed the agreement as "significant and beneficial." Saud O. Ounallah, general director, JCCI said that the role of UN ESCWA is to work in social and business environment trying to improve these aspects in the countries that are under their umbrella, which includes part of the Middle East. "The aim and objective of this agreement is really to call on the expertise and experience that ESCWA has gained in successfully implementing such projects in the various countries in the area, and try to adapt these to our environment and needs," he added.
