COMMERCE MINISTRY OUTLINES CONSUMER PROTECTION TRAINING

UNCLAS RIYADH 000537 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV PREL SA SUBJECT: COMMERCE MINISTRY OUTLINES CONSUMER PROTECTION TRAINING NEEDS REF: A) 4/2/09 USG WHITEPAPER ON ALIREZA WASHINGTON VISIT ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request. See paragraph four. ¶2. (SBU) In a recent letter to the Charge, Deputy Commerce Minister for Consumer Protection Abdulrahman Abdulrazzaq outlined areas in which the Ministry could benefit from USG training assistance. The letter was following up on a meeting the Charge held with the Deputy Minister in late February in which he expressed a strong interest in such assistance. ¶3. (SBU) The text of the letter follows: Dear Mr. Rundell: With reference to our meeting at the Ministry of Commerce headquarters on Monday, February 23, during which we discussed consumer protection issues, please allow me to list below the programs I believe would be relevant to the Consumer Affairs Bureau: ¶1. Commercial Anti-Fraud Department Needs a) Training programs for the Department's inspectors, both in Saudi Arabia and abroad b) Cooperation in the area of development and modernization of consumer affairs regulations c) Experts to help simplify day-to-day processes and prepare consumer information pamphlets and flyers d) A media awareness campaign e) Exchange of information between Saudi Arabia and the United States regarding copied or fraudulent products f) Encourage U.S. companies to report violations or infringements on their trademarks to the Ministry of Commerce's headquarters or branches ¶2. General Supply Department Needs a) Modernization of regulations and procedures b) Supply monitoring and policy implementation programs c) Basic food supply strategic reserve program and establishment of storage facilities d) Promotional research and studies program e) Training programs f) Price monitoring programs g) Training programs for Ministry of Commerce employees and volunteers to enable them to operate and run critical facilities and services h) Other programs Implementing and developing the above programs in a manner that accomplishes the goals set forth requires that the appropriate mechanisms, policies, human and financial resources be put in place. In view of the current volatility in the global economy, our main goal in implementing these programs is to ensure that the needs of Saudi citizens are met at reasonable prices, under normal and abnormal circumstances. We hope to be able to work these programs into the Ministry's research and programming annual budget plan. Sincerely, Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Abdulrazzaq Deputy Minister for Consumer Affairs (end text) ¶4. (SBU) Post requests the Department consider this MoCI proposal in conjunction with ref A in preparation for Minister of Commerce and Industry Alireza's planned April visit to the United States. RUNDELL