Two women win elections in Jeddah chamber of commerce

Two Saudi Arabian business women on Wednesday won the membership of the chamber of commerce- industry in Jeddah, in the first event of its kind in the history of Saudi Arabia.

Results of the elections showed that Lama al-Suleiman got 1138 votes while Nashwa Taher got 1015 votes. The two women candidates were on an election list that included names of industrialists, and well-known contractors and won the 12- seats of the chamber s board.

Lama al-Suleiman, a mother for four children, said after announcing the results her great happiness, considering that her victory is a big step forward for the Saudi women and "a response to the desire of the Saudi people."

Some 17 women have been competing in the elections of the chamber of commerce and industry along with 54 men over the 12 seats of the chamber board, of which 12 seats will be filled through elections, while the other seats will be filled by appointment at the consent of the ministry of commerce.

The Saudi business women cast their votes on Saturday and Sunday, while the men cast their votes on Monday and Tuesday. The elections in which five alliances took part and several independents were described as the hottest in the history of the chamber of commerce and industry in Jeddah.

In September, the Saudi authorities agreed for women to take part in the elections of the chamber of commerce and industry in a first step of its kind. Women's participation in the elections of the chambers of commerce used to be limited to voting.

Worthy mentioning that women prevented from participation in the municipal elections which were organized in the first half of this year. That was the first political elections to take place in the Kingdom.