Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10JEDDAH4
2010-01-04 09:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Consulate Jeddah
Cable title:  

JEDDAH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: A GATEWAY THROUGH

Tags:  KPAO ECON PREL EMIN EFIN EIND EINV SA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0027
PP RUEHDH
DE RUEHJI #0004/01 0040926
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 040926Z JAN 10
FM AMCONSUL JEDDAH
TO RUEHC/SECSATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1682
INFO RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RYADH PRIORITY 8661
RUHDH/AMCONSUL DHAHRAN PRIORIY 0212
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RHEHAA/NSC WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREAURY WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000004 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/FO, R, CA/EX, ECA/A/E/NEA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO ECON PREL EMIN EFIN EIND EINV SA
SUBJECT: JEDDAH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: A GATEWAY THROUGH
COOPERATION TO A MORE OPEN SOCIETY

REF: A. 09 JEDDAH 473

B. 09 JEDDAH 488 AND PREVIOUS

C. 09 JEDDAH 50

JEDDAH 00000004 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 JEDDAH 000004

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, EEB/FO, R, CA/EX, ECA/A/E/NEA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO ECON PREL EMIN EFIN EIND EINV SA
SUBJECT: JEDDAH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: A GATEWAY THROUGH
COOPERATION TO A MORE OPEN SOCIETY

REF: A. 09 JEDDAH 473

B. 09 JEDDAH 488 AND PREVIOUS

C. 09 JEDDAH 50

JEDDAH 00000004 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) Summary: Ambassador Smith's December 28 visit to
the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) revealed
an active organization on the front line of social change in
Saudi Arabia. Ambassador met with Deputy Chair Dr. Lama
Sulaiman, the first woman to be elected to this position (ref
A),and other members of the JCCI board of directors. The
meeting covered U.S. trade delegations, visa issues, JCCI's
relief efforts following the devastating November 25 flood
(ref B),and the Chamber's desire to participate in
professional exchanges and disaster relief training for
volunteers. In view of a more forward-leaning and
cooperative attitude struck by JCCI during the meeting, under
its new leadership, Consulate Jeddah intends to pursue
openings on several fronts. End summary.


MORE TIME FOR U.S. TRADE DELEGATIONS, MORE VISAS FOR SAUDI
BUSINESSMEN


2. (SBU) JCCI Deputy Chairpersons Dr. Lama Sulaiman and Mazen
Batterjee, with board members Abdul Khaliq Saeed and Ziad
Bassam Al-Bassam, expressed an interest in receiving more
U.S. trade delegations in Jeddah. Dr. Sulaiman noted,
however, that the U.S. delegates' schedules were usually "too
busy" to allow for sufficient meeting time to exchange
information and forge long-term relationships necessary to do
business in Saudi Arabia. Sulaiman suggested a schedule for
future visits that allotted more time for JCCI members, with
much earlier advance notice of delegations, so JCCI could
help ensure the visits would be successful. (Note: JCCI
employees have also expressed frustration with the
last-minute scheduling of SAG-organized delegations, such as
recent visits by U.S. mayors and state legislators. End
note.) FCS Officer mentioned an upcoming delegation led by
the US-Saudi Arabian Business Council, scheduled to visit

Jeddah February 12-16 during the Jeddah Economic Forum (JEF).
JCCI offered to arrange a meeting room for the delegation to
use during its visit, and to assist with arranging meetings
and visits to companies and factories. (Note: Some U.S.
trade delegations last year had perceived a lack of JCCI
interest, so this meeting marks a change of direction.
JCCI's seeming lack of interest may have been due -- at least
in part -- to turmoil within the organization following the
removal of its chairman (ref C). End note.)


3. (U) Discussion about U.S. trade delegations coming to
Saudi Arabia prompted the JCCI leaders to express an interest
in participating in trade shows in the United States, which
evolved into a conversation about visas, and an inquiry
regarding when full visa operations will be restored in
Jeddah. Consul General noted that Consulate Jeddah already
facilitates visa issuance for specific business-oriented
travel, and he described interim plans to process a higher
number of visa applications in the coming months, and to
resume full visa services in Jeddah when the New Consulate
Compound opens.


JCCI AS POSSIBLE HOST FOR U.S. STUDENT INTERNS


4. (U) The visa discussion prompted JCCI's manager of
logistics Henna Al-Maimani to talk about the importance of
student and professional exchanges and the JCCI's willingness
to start exchange programs. As a recent participant in an
International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) on NGOs and
civic participation, she reflected on how much she benefited
from her experience, and expressed a desire to host American
students or recent college graduates as interns at the
Chamber, and then perhaps in private Saudi companies.
Ambassador responded that we would very much like to pursue
such opportunities.


FLOOD RELIEF EFFORTS: VOLUNTEERS TO THE RESCUE


5. (U) In demonstrating the level of activity and civic
engagement of the JCCI, Dr. Sulaiman explained that the
Chamber had been heavily involved in the aftermath of the
November 25 Jeddah flood. The JCCI now houses a corporate

JEDDAH 00000004 002.2 OF 002


social responsibility department, with 7,000 registered
volunteers. Sulaiman boasted that the JCCI's effort to
distribute food from their warehouse to the flood victims had
been extremely successful and that efforts were ongoing. She
attributed this success to the clear plans that the JCCI put
in place to guide the volunteers that showed up in the
affected areas. Sulaiman noted, however, that the volunteers
have been less successful in rebuilding the 3000 homes
damaged by the flood, and expressed interest in learning more
about the work of the U.S. NGO Habitat for Humanity.
Ambassador Smith recommended JCCI contact the group to
inquire about the possibility of training volunteers in Saudi
Arabia. Board members present agreed that there is a great
need for training volunteers on how to organize and assist in
disaster relief operations in the Kingdom. (Comment: The
recent response to the Jeddah flood has been characterized by
an unprecedented interest in volunteerism among individuals
and organizations in Saudi Arabia. End comment.)


6. (U) CG inquired about the possibility of using resources
and capacities devoted to the Hajj for housing the displaced
flood victims. Sulaiman replied that the JCCI had explored
the option of housing displaced persons in Mina (which holds
1.3 million pilgrims during Hajj season),near Mecca, after
the conclusion of Hajj, but JCCI and other Jeddah leaders
could not convince the flood victims themselves to relocate
even temporarily. The vast majority of residents of
southeast Jeddah affected by the flood preferred to remain in
their homes even amid the extensive flood damage.


COMMENT: A NEW AND MORE COOPERATIVE TONE AT JCCI


7. (SBU) The JCCI and other chambers of commerce around the
Kingdom remain the only organizations that allow for direct
election of the majority of their governing board. (Note:
The previous JCCI board included four Saudi women, two
elected, two appointed; the current board has three women,
one elected, two appointed. End note.) Dr. Sulaiman is the
first woman to be elected to fill one of JCCI's Deputy
Chairperson positions, and she is clearly using this historic
achievement to set a new, more forward-leaning and
cooperative tone at the Chamber. Sulaiman belongs to an
influential merchant family in Jeddah, and in her focused,
low key, congenial, quietly insistent way, she is both
outspoken and effective, commanding a great deal of authority
over the male board members based on their respect for her
experience, competence and professional manner. It is worth
noting that her interactions with fellow board members during
the meeting, the first time we have seen her actually lead
(versus merely attend) a meeting with male board members,
were firm but warm and very collegial. JCCI Board Chairman
Saleh Kamel was not present, perhaps due to health issues,
including his reported confinement to a wheelchair.


8. (SBU) The JCCI's new openness to U.S. trade delegations,
professional exchanges, civic engagement (through
volunteerism) and women's leadership are all positive
indicators of the chamber's potential to promote gradual
social change from within the Jeddah area's business
community and socio-economic upper strata. Post will pursue
these opportunities for increased cooperation delineated
above. End comment.


9. (U) Ambassador Smith has cleared this message.
QUINN