A delegation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently traveled to Saudi Arabia as part of an initiative aimed at promoting healthy living as a way to achieve a thriving economy.
The U.S. Chamber’s Global Initiative on Health and Economy works to promote health as an economic asset around the world. This month, representatives from the U.S. Chamber were hosted by the Saudi Committee for International Trade at the offices of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce, to promote public-private partnerships in support of the Saudi government’s health goals, the U.S. Chamber said in a recent blog post, entitled Why Are U.S. Companies Trying to Improve Health Care in Saudi Arabia?
Over fifty people – including Abdulrahman Al-Jeraisy, Chairman, Jeraisy Group – took part in a Chamber-hosted health screening at the headquarters of Al Jeraisy, a major Saudi company in Riyadh.
To address challenges related to workforce productivity, the Saudi Council of Ministers “proposed two important health goals as part of a policy roadmap for economic reform. The first – Living Healthy, Being Healthy – emphasizes making good lifestyle choices to prevent disease, particularly emphasizing activity and organized sports. The second – Corporatization for Efficient and High Quality Health Care – pushes for more competition and transparency among health service providers,” the Chamber wrote.
“Economic growth depends on the health and prosperity of a country’s citizens – in particular its workforce. Economic costs related to lost productivity are high and projected to increase, and they threaten to impose heavy burdens on businesses, governments, and individuals now and in the years to come. The U.S. Chamber represents global providers of health innovation and technology, including large employers in Saudi Arabia. The Chamber and its members have significant incentives to work with the Saudi government to support its health targets. Through public-private partnerships, Chamber members have opportunities as health service providers, employers, and community leaders to encourage employee wellness and support health policy goals.”
“As employers in Saudi Arabia, Chamber members contribute their leadership and support through employee health education efforts. In a recent example, over fifty people attended a Chamber-hosted health screening at the headquarters of Al Jeraisy, a Saudi company in Riyadh. Healthcare professionals from MetLife and Abbott provided employees information on the importance of early detection, diagnosis and management of disease, and fitness experts and nutrition providers gave demonstrations to attendees.”
[Click here to read the full post on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Visit to Saudi Arabia]
