Nass takes the helm at BCCI
Manama : The Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) elected Sameer Abdulla Ahmed Nass of the ‘Tojjar 2018’ bloc as its new chairman of the board of directors.
In a statement, the industry body also announced naming Khalid Mohammed Yousif Najibi as its first vice-chairman, Mohammed Abduljabbar Al Kooheji as second vice-chairman, Aref Ahmed Ali Hijris as Treasurer, and Waleed Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo as Vice-Treasurer. Basem Mohamed Ahmed Al Saei and Mohammed Farooq Al Moayed were elected as the executive bureau members of the Chamber.
Tojjar bloc led by Nass won 10 seats in the hotly contested BCCI election held earlier this month. Closely following them with 7 seats was Sharaka. The other blocs, Tawoon and Al Ghad, however, failed to win any seats.
Nass claimed the most number of votes in the election held at the Isa Cultural Centre, with his block also emerging as the most successful of the four blocks.
After assuming his office, Nass announced a 100-day work plan before the members of the Chamber and assigned a temporary committee to execute the plan. Established in 1939, BCCI is the oldest chamber of commerce in the region and is also the main representative of the private sector in the Kingdom.
The committee, Nass said, will focus on decentralising Chamber’s decisions, updating its regulations and mechanisms, training employees as well as restructuring the chamber to make it an effective platform for all to interact. The official name, members, tasks and period of work of the committee will be announced in a week’s time.
“We are taking this responsibility at a challenging time both at the local, regional, and international levels,” Nass said adding “it is with this in mind, that we have set our principal goal, which is transforming Bait Al Tijjar into a platform for the business community.”
Nass added: “To achieve this goal, we have set a strategy and have determined our work scheme for the first 100 days.”
He also urged the members to establish a database and conduct market research to keep abreast of the challenges. “This would enable the business community to make sound and informed decisions,” stressed Nass.
“We also need to go beyond that, by offering micro, small, and medium enterprises all needed support to help them become effective contributors to the national economy,” he added.
Highlighting the need to evaluate the competency of the Chamber’s studies centre, the Chairman also mulled the possibility of “improving it or establishing a new centre” to make BCCI a reliable source of information for the business community.
Nass expressed deep thanks and appreciation to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister for their ceaseless support and guidance.
Work scheme for the first 100 days
Identifying the regulations and executive bylaws that hinder the development of the market tools, and curbs the market’s progress and resilience.
Redirecting the markets and keeping them abreast of globalisation and technological advancement.
Innovation in attracting investments and international trade, which are considered key to diversifying and revitalising the market.
Reinforcing the standing of the chamber as a platform for representing professional business institutions and societies, which should be our strategic partners.
A comprehensive evaluation of the executive body of the chamber, fostering its strengths and supporting it in overcoming its weaknesses, as well as using internationally recognized Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Pillars of work
Establishing a mechanism that ensures equality and decentralization in making decisions.
Founding an approach that encourages innovation and creativity and coalitions in the various sectors.
Uplifting local market on par with international standards.
Revising and restructuring the chamber’s work structure, bearing in mind the importance of training employees to apply the new strategies.
Focus on decentralisation
The Chamber’s focus, according to Sameer Abdulla Ahmed Nass, in the upcoming period, will be on decentralising the mechanism of decision making.
For this, the Chamber, Nass said, will establish a Consultative Council, which embraces former chamber heads and influential business owners.
He also directed to hold regular meetings for various business sectors and to change the composition and selection criteria of the committees and its members.
A decision was also taken to enhance local, regional, and international connections and foster communication to revitalize liaison with the partners of the Chamber.
The Chairman also directed to review all signed bilateral agreements and memorandums in a bid to upgrade them in line with the economic changes and challenges.
Explaining further, Nass said, the chamber will announce soon a mechanism to reveal its agendas for regular, annual, and monthly meetings.
He also pledged to develop a framework for proposing ideas, suggestions, and solutions, reform the work of the committees and the mechanism for communicating with the chamber’s partners.
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