FATIMA MUHAMMAD

SAUDI GAZETTE

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has presented to the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry a proposal to organize the freelance consultancy market in the Kingdom.



The final proposal will be submitted to the Shoura Council and the Council of Ministers for approval.

And once the approval has been granted, it will be handed to a new agency working under the Ministry of Commerce.



The agency will be named the Saudi Administrative, Economic and Finance Consultants Commission, which will also handle all freelance jobs that do not fall under the responsibility of other government bodies.



The proposal consists of 24 Articles. It restricts freelance consultancy to Saudis only with some exceptions for expatriates who have experience and qualification in the field.



Businessmen attending a workshop on the new proposal at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) expressed their reservation on Article 19 which obliges them to inform the ministry about any violations they note while doing their work.



They also refused to reveal confidential information about their clients. Saudi consulting companies are allowed to provide consultations in one field only.



Hamza Oun, the deputy head of the national committee for consultation offices at the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said that four international companies are taking up to 95 percent of the total share of the market.



There are 10,000 Saudi companies that are sharing the remaining 5 percent, he said. The only way Saudi companies can increase their profit and enjoy fair competition is by being allowed to provide different consultation services as is the case with international companies, Oun said.