VZCZCXYZ0016
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRH #0537 0981329
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081329Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0581

UNCLAS RIYADH 000537 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV PREL SA
SUBJECT: COMMERCE MINISTRY OUTLINES CONSUMER PROTECTION TRAINING 
NEEDS 
 
REF:  A) 4/2/09 USG WHITEPAPER ON ALIREZA WASHINGTON VISIT 
 
¶1. (SBU) This is an action request.  See paragraph four. 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a recent letter to the Charge, Deputy Commerce Minister 
for Consumer Protection Abdulrahman Abdulrazzaq outlined areas in 
which the Ministry could benefit from USG training assistance.  The 
letter was following up on a meeting the Charge held with the Deputy 
Minister in late February in which he expressed a strong interest in 
such assistance. 
 
¶3. (SBU) The text of the letter follows: 
 
Dear Mr. Rundell: 
 
With reference to our meeting at the Ministry of Commerce 
headquarters on Monday, February 23, during which we discussed 
consumer protection issues, please allow me to list below the 
programs I believe would be relevant to the Consumer Affairs 
Bureau: 
 
¶1. Commercial Anti-Fraud Department Needs 
a) Training programs for the Department's inspectors, both in Saudi 
Arabia and abroad 
b) Cooperation in the area of development and modernization of 
consumer affairs regulations 
c) Experts to help simplify day-to-day processes and prepare 
consumer information pamphlets and flyers 
d) A media awareness campaign 
e) Exchange of information between Saudi Arabia and the United 
States regarding copied or fraudulent products 
f) Encourage U.S. companies to report violations or infringements on 
their trademarks to the Ministry of Commerce's headquarters or 
branches 
 
¶2. General Supply Department Needs 
a) Modernization of regulations and procedures 
b) Supply monitoring and policy implementation programs 
c) Basic food supply strategic reserve program and establishment of 
storage facilities 
d) Promotional research and studies program 
e) Training programs 
f) Price monitoring programs 
g) Training programs for Ministry of Commerce employees and 
volunteers to enable them to operate and run critical facilities and 
services 
h) Other programs 
 
Implementing and developing the above programs in a manner that 
accomplishes the goals set forth requires that the appropriate 
mechanisms, policies, human and financial resources be put in place. 
 In view of the current volatility in the global economy, our main 
goal in implementing these programs is to ensure that the needs of 
Saudi citizens are met at reasonable prices, under normal and 
abnormal circumstances. 
 
We hope to be able to work these programs into the Ministry's 
research and programming annual budget plan. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Abdulrazzaq 
Deputy Minister for Consumer Affairs 
 
(end text) 
 
¶4. (SBU) Post requests the Department consider this MoCI proposal in 
conjunction with ref A in preparation for Minister of Commerce and 
Industry Alireza's planned April visit to the United States. 
 
RUNDELL