KUWAIT: His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah addressed a cable of congratulations to Mohammad Jassem Al-Sagr, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), on his election uncontested as the chamber's head. His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak sent identical messages to Sagr.

KCCI's board elected Sagr as chairman during a general assembly meeting held on March 31. He succeeds long-time KCCI chairman Ali Al-Ghanem, who stepped down following 15 years of hard work and efficiency, KCCI said in a statement. The new board members were elected during the meeting as follows: Mohammed Jassem Al-Sagr - Chairman; Abdul Wahab Al-Wazzan - First deputy chairman; Fahad Al-Joa'an - Second deputy chairman; Abdullah Al-Humaidhi - honorary treasurer; Dabbous Al-Dabbous - Deputy honorary treasurer; Osama Al-Nisf - Office member; Essam Mohammed Al-Bahar - Office member.

KCCI added that board members then resumed consultations to organize various committee memberships, noting that the board would have five committees including the membership and commercial norms, labor and industry, trade and transportation, financial and investment and the projects and housing committees.

Besides his vast record in the field of economy, trade and industry, Sagr held several posts locally, regionally and internationally. He is the chairman of the Arab and International Relations Council since August 2009, and has chaired the Arab parliament from 2005 to 2009. Sagr was a prominent member of parliament between 1999 and 2009, a period during which he chaired the foreign affairs' committee. Sagr also served as editor-in-chief of Al-Qabas daily from 1983 to 1999.