Tuesday, 20th October 2009

The Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ADCCI) has announced that the 7th of the upcoming month of December, 2009, was set as the date for conducting the ADCCI 4-year-term board members’ 2010 elections. This is the date earmarked for the first round; and in the event of the lack of a quorum (i.e. the presence of a quarter of the General Assembly’s members), a second round will be convened at least after a fortnight as from 7th December 2009. The meeting due to be held on 21st December 2009 will be valid irrespective of the number of attendees.
The announcement on setting a date for the elections came in the course of a press statement made by HE Mohammed Rashed Al Hameli, ADCCI Director-General, in which he stated the arrangements related to holding the elections coupled with prerequisites for nomination and voting, along with their respective dates.

Mr. Al Hameli praised the limitless support given to the chamber by both President HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and General HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. He also commended their keenness to enhance the chamber’s role and to bring to bear the role of the private sector in the process of economic development in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi in particular and in the UAE at large.

The Law No. 27 of 2005 indicates that the ADCCI General Meeting is composed of all Chamber Members, and that attending and participating in voting shall be confined to those who have paid their annual fees, given that the general assembly meets once every four years upon the election of a new board of directors, Mr. Al Hameli said, explaining that it is enshrined in Article 9 of the Chamber Law that the ADCCI Chairman shall convene the general meeting at least one month prior to its being held, provided that such a call be published in a local newspaper. This meeting shall be valid if attended by a quarter of members who have paid their annual fees and in the event of an unfulfilled quorum at the said meeting, a second one – which would be valid regardless of the number of attendees - should be convened after at least a fortnight as from the date of the previous meeting. Decisions shall be made by a majority of present members.

It is stipulated by law that a member who has paid his annual fees shall have one vote, that in case of a licence including more than one partner and/or person, they have to identify the one who would represent them by virtue of a letter addressed to the chamber, and that the one entitled to vote may do so by proxy, provided that the agent be a chamber member, that the power of attorney be confined to one member and attested by the Notary Public, and that the agent be in possession of one vote only.

The law also states that the ADCCI is run by a board of directors made up of 21 members, that an emiri decree is to be issued appointing 6 members thereof, including 2 female members, plus 15 elected members, including 2 expatriate ones to be elected by foreign chamber-members, and that the term of membership shall be for four years.

Nomination for the ADCCI Board shall open as from yesterday; that is, Monday, 16th August 2009 until Tuesday, 15th September 2009, and no other nominations shall be accepted following that date, HE Mohammed Rashed Al Hameli, ADCCI Director-General and Head of the Elections-Regulating Committee, announced, noting that nominations applications are available at all branches and offices of the chamber besides the Office of Elections’ Affairs based on the second floor of the Chamber Building. Application forms can also be obtained and the elections-related law plus other information on voting and nomination reviewed on the Internet Website at: http://elections.adcci.ae .

Speaking as well of terms and conditions pertinent to the ADCCI Board Members’ Elections, he explained that the law stipulates that a board member should be a member registered with the chamber, one who has paid all his annual fees, engaging in trade or industrial businesses for a period of no less than three consecutive years, enjoying both a full legal capacity and good reputation, as well as being one who has never been convicted. Likewise, the board member’s age should not be under 21 calendar years and the trade business (i.e. a firm) should be registered in his own name or he may be a partner (in a company).

 
Mr. Al Hameli said that: “All chamber members representing the general meeting shall have the right to vote at the ADCCI Board Members’ 2010 Elections”. He noted that each and every member has one vote, and that in the event of a licence including more than one person as in the case of companies, partners will have to authorize one of them by virtue of a letter addressed to the chamber at least ten days prior to the date of elections so as for such a partner to cast the company’s vote. As regards public joint-stock companies, the Head of the ADCCI Elections-Regulating Committee said that such companies and subsidiaries of foreign ones have – at least seven days prior to holding the elections - to send a letter to the chamber, showing the name of the person authorized to vote for them.

 
The elections are carried out under the supervision of a committee formed under the chairmanship of a judge besides five members whose names have been determined by a decision made by the highly esteemed Chairman of the Executive Council, Mr. Al Hameli pointed out.