Fatima Muhammad

Saudi Gazette

 

JEDDAH — Over 350 participants took part in the second National Productive Families Conference and Exhibition held at the Jeddah Hilton Hotel.



Inaugurated by Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah province, the event was launched under the slogan “Toward building the ideology of Made in KSA.” Minister of Social Affairs Yousef Al-Othaimeen was also present.



This event is organized by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), represented by the Jeddah Social Responsibility Committee, to support productive families by giving their hand-crafted products exposure in the local market.



While announcing a higher committee for productive families, Prince Khaled said he will take any steps necessary to ease challenges facing productive families.



“Thank you for the comfort and relief you gave to me, every Saudi is proud of you and what you’re doing is what people should compete for.”



He went on to urge banks to support such initiatives and criticized the business community for its limited presence at the event.



Faiqa Al-Harbi, a Saudi woman who sells different handmade products that represent tribal life, began displaying her products at exhibitions nearly six years ago. She eventually opened a boutique in her home and has been doing brisk business.



Among her distinguished products are her dolls which she dresses in traditional clothes with henna on their hands and feet.



Kholoud Dahw, a Saudi woman from Makkah who quit her job a year ago to run her business of recycling accessories, said the online photo-sharing site Instagram has allowed her to reach out to her customers.



“I started by recycling my own jewelry but then switched over to recycling accessories by turning them into new styles. Instagram has allowed me to expand my customer base. I’ve even started to send accessories to consumers in Kuwait and Bahrain,” she said.



Olfat Qabbani, the leader of the productive families and a member of the JCCI, apologized to productive families for not doing more to help them sell their products.



“We hope, through this gathering and the new higher committee for productive families, to help these businesses flourish and to turn society from a consuming society to a productive one,” she said.