The Economic Family swept all the seats in the midterm elections for the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry yesterday with 85 percent of the KCCI members casting their ballots.

Muhammad Jassim Al-Sager topped the results by achieving first place after obtaining 7,753 votes, while Fahd Khaled Al-Dabbous came second with 7,302 votes, Hamad Musaed Al-Sayer third with 7,112 votes, and Wafaa Ahmed Al-Qatami fourth with 6,899, along with Musab Salem Al-Nisf with 6,794 votes. .

The sixth place went to Fahd Yaqoub Al-Jawa’an with 6,771 votes, seventh to Anfal Nabil Al-Mulla with 6730, eighth to Dirar Youssef Al-Ghanim with 6672, ninth to Khaled Muhalhal Al-Mudhaf with 6661, and tenth to Khaled Mashari Al-Khaled with 6628, followed by Osama Jawad Bukhamseen eleventh place with 6315, followed by Muhammad Abdul Redha Kakoli with 6100 votes, while Badr Al-Sumait from the Change List got the first reserve with 1976 votes.

Following the voting businessman Imad Al-Saqer said that the current economic conditions are not going well, “but I am optimistic about a new group of young people in the list of the economic family, and I wish them success and hope they will contribute to the service of the national economy, and make positive contributions.”

Al-Sager added that the public debt is a necessary priority to resolve the crises and accumulations that resulted from the Corona pandemic, “and I believe that it cannot be delayed, and it is enough that the credit rating has been downgraded twice, so it must be taken in the order of priorities, because it belongs to the whole country, and is entrusted to the government and the National Assembly and does not fall in the Chamber’s jurisdiction.

He explained that inflation is a global matter, not just a local one, and the US Federal Bank increased the interest rate by 25 points, followed by the Central Bank of Kuwait to control inflation, noting that it is difficult to avoid inflation, because it happened due to global factors, and Kuwait is neither a productive nor a manufacturing country but depends on its consumption of import of commodities.

For his part, Talal Al-Bahr, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IFA Hotels and Resorts, said, “We always support participation in the Chamber of Commerce elections,” adding that “as usual, it is an order and a democratic wedding, and it is held with the participation of a large number of parties, and we wish everyone success.”

He expressed his wishes for more support from the state and for participation between the public and private sectors, pointing out that after the end of the Corona pandemic, “we hope that the situation will improve for the better.”

He pointed out that “the current crisis (between Russia and Ukraine) has brought good to the Middle East and the Gulf region.” However, he reiterated that the rise in oil is “a temporary matter.”

He stated that a lot of money is being pumped into the Gulf region, calling for more cooperation between the state and the private sector to implement the state’s plans related to the private sector’s participation in the implementation of new projects, which enhances the attraction of capital from abroad to Kuwait.

Regarding the rise in prices of some raw materials as a result of the crisis, Al-Bahr stated that the process of rising prices is a global issue in all raw materials, and the matter is considered normal.

He said that Kuwait “is still the cheapest in the world in price levels compared to all countries in the world,” adding that the inflation that is currently taking place is global.

Al-Bahar stressed the role of the private sector in the state’s various plans and projects.

In turn, a member of the Board of Directors of the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Talal Al-Kharafi, stressed that there is great grumbling about the lack of appropriate government measures with the private sector in its various segments, especially in light of the repercussions of the Corona pandemic, hoping that the next stage will witness greater interest in the private sector.

Al-Kharafi called on the government to pay attention to the private sector and work to develop it, and then put forward active participation by meeting its requirements and needs, indicating that there is great popular interest in the private sector in Kuwait, which is clearly evident through participation in the elections in this way.

He explained that the private sector includes all segments of society, pointing out that the large public presence and popular interaction with the Chamber’s elections indicate the importance of the private sector and its role in the national economy.

He indicated that the turnout and interaction with the Chamber’s elections confirms that it serves as an outlet for the opinion of the private sector, and the huge attendance is the best proof of this, pointing to the great cooperation between all the candidates, which reflects their patriotic feeling towards Kuwait.

For his part, a member of the Chamber’s board of directors, Khaled Ali Al-Ghanim, said: “Today we are living in a democratic and upscale wedding, in a joyful atmosphere and honest competition between two lists and independents, and this is what is required for there to be friendship and love,” commenting: “Whatever the results of the elections we must accept with open arms.” And if the electoral list loses, it will not take away its right to express its views and put them forward through the right channels.”

Al-Ghanim added: “I think that we have benefited from these elections with their positives and negatives, and there were some positive theses by other lists and independents, and we took them into consideration and will be actually implemented,” considering that “young people are the nucleus, the backbone and the basis in all sectors.”

Al-Sager said “The Family” victory is a great honor. In his statement after the results were announced, he promised the general assembly and members, “We will do our best to serve the private sector and the members of the chamber.”


Read Today's News TODAY... on our Telegram Channel click here to join and receive all the latest updates t.me/thetimeskuwait