ADCCI 2009-2010 Elections Underway

Wednesday, 25th November 2009

The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ADCCI) Elections-Supervising Committee (ESC) chaired by the judged seconded from the Judicial Department, HE the Adviser Ahmed Ibrahim Al Zaabi announced that technical preparations have been made for conducting the ADCCI Board 2010 Elections and that the 7th of the forthcoming month of December has been set as the date for such elections.

The ESC has finalized all technical and other preparations related to holding the elections as scheduled on Monday, 7th December 2009, at three polling stations; namely, the Abu Dhabi-based Exhibition Centre, the district of Al Khubaissi in the city of Al Ain and the Al Dhafrah Club in Zayed City, the Western Region, where votes will be cast by ADCCI members, Mr. Zaabi said, explaining that the aforesaid date would be earmarked for the first round of elections, and that in the event of an unfulfilled quorum, there will be repeat elections at the second round on 21st December 2009 at the very same venues mentioned above.

In case of cancelling it, those who have voted at the first round will have to do so at the second one whose number of votes cast and attendees will take effect, he pointed out, making clear that since its formation, the ESC held eight meetings in the course of which all matters related to the elections, nomination applications, the implementation of electoral regulations and mechanism and the approval of board-membership candidates’ list have been discussed, and that the ESC will directly and intensively oversee the voting process and the elections in general for making one’s choice from those standing for the membership of the ADCCI board of directors. Over the past period, the ESC has also dwelt upon following up the application of the elections’ regulations and mechanism plus the entire details associated with nomination, procedures related to voting and everything in relation to the overall electoral process of the ADCCI for the year 2010.

For his own part, HE Mohammed Rashed Al Hameli, ADCCI Director-General, said that: “Services preparations and arrangements pertinent to conducting the ADCCI board elections are afoot, and that the Internal Committee supervising the provision of technical and services facilities is monitoring all preparations and details appertaining to this electoral process by means of making available equipment, accessories, computers and technical systems with regard to carrying out such elections, along with ensuring their proper progress in a perfect manner”.

The Internal Committee set up by ADCCI is working incessantly towards the availability of all requirements and facilities to both the voters and members of the ADCCI General Assembly, who are going to take part in voting for electing board members of the chamber, something which is due to be under way - at the three venues specified by the ESC chaired by the advisor appointed by the Judicial Department – next Monday, 7th December 2009, Mr. Al Hameli affirmed, noting that all necessary arrangements have been made so as to both provide such facilities and ensure the proper progress of elections in an easily smooth way which would reflect the importance of this electoral process related to the Abu Dhabi-based private-sector community and businesses.

Furthermore, the ADCCI has organized a seminar on technical preparations for holding its elections and members of the committee composed by the chamber have explained how to get a voter’s card issued, the procedure of counting the total number of votes for a member according to memberships in his own possession or companies and relevant branches, whether the member holds one power of attorney including one vote and whether it has been attested by the Notary Public so as for the same to be added to the counted votes.

Members of the committee have explained that in accordance with the law, UAE candidates will be elected by UAE members of the ADCCI, while expatriates will be elected by foreign chamber –members, subsidiaries of foreign companies, foreign businesses, as well as by business councils based in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Similarly, in the course of the seminar, a full, comprehensive presentation was introduced on the overall stages of the electoral process and the steps in place for manual and electronic voting.