Statute of the Arab Leather Industries Union

Chapter I: Establishment of the Union

Article 1

Article 2

• a. The city of Damascus in the Syrian Arab Republic shall be the headquarters of the Union.
• b. The Union may, pursuant to a resolution by the Board of Directors, establish offices or branches in other Arab countries. The resolution shall define the authority and competencies of such office or branch.
• c. The state designated as the headquarters of the Union undertakes to take the necessary legal procedures in accordance with its domestic laws for the establishment and official registration of the Union.

Article 3

• a. The Union shall enjoy legal personality and full legal capacity to conduct its operations and achieve its objectives.

Chapter II: Objectives and Competencies of the Union

Article 4

Article 5

• a. Facilitate the exchange of up-to-date technical information, data, and statistics (both Arab and international) relevant to members' activities.
• b. Provide recommendations to coordinate and harmonize members’ diverse activities to safeguard their interests, and propose and monitor the implementation of mutual cooperation programs.
• c. Assist member companies and institutions to operate across all aspects of their activities as an integrated group.
• d. Encourage Union members to establish joint ventures contributing to Arab economic integration, provided that such companies are established via the Council of Arab Economic Unity.
• e. Cooperate with relevant Arab and foreign federations and bodies in areas of common interest.
• f. Assist members in resolving emergency issues and carry out arbitration between members or between them and third parties upon request.
• g. Assist members in acquiring modern technology, facilitate its exchange, consolidate collective efforts to procure it on the best terms, and develop it to suit members' operating conditions.
• h. Publish bulletins, magazines, and periodicals serving the Union's objectives, and organize or participate in relevant Arab and international seminars and conferences.
• i. Assist member companies and institutions in executing new projects or expanding existing facilities to achieve Arab self-sufficiency.
• j. Prepare and monitor training programs aimed at qualifying and upskilling workers in this sector, facilitate training missions, and promote Arab expertise exchange among members.
• k. Assist in conducting necessary research and feasibility studies for members and organize their contact with specialized Arab and foreign consulting firms.
• l. Secure the necessary operational requirements for members at reasonable prices and facilitate the mutual exchange of these requirements.

Chapter III: Membership (Membership of Companies and Chambers)

Article 6

1. Active Member.
2. Associate Member.
3. Observer Member.

• a. Active Membership:
  
  
  Admitted as Active Members are: Arab institutions, federations, companies, enterprises, and projects operating in the sector stipulated in Article 1. An Active Member must have at least 51% of its capital owned by Arab shareholders, and its representative in the Union’s organs must hold Arab nationality.
• b. Associate Membership:
  
  
  Admitted as Associate Members are Arab institutions, companies, bodies, and projects operating in the sector stipulated in Article 1, comprising:
  
  
  • Arab bodies, institutions, and offices related to the Union’s activities.
  • Specialized Arab consulting firms in the sector defined in Article 1.
  • Specialized Arab federations in the same field, as well as Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Arab states.
• c. Observer Membership:
  
  
  Admitted as Observer Members are:
  
  
  • The Council of Arab Economic Unity and the Industrial Development Centre for Arab States (IDCAS).
  • Arab organizations relevant to the Union's activities.

Article 7

• a. Except for Observer Members, an applicant seeking membership shall submit a written application to the Board of Directors pledging compliance with the Union's Statute and timely payment of admission fees and dues. Supporting documentation verifying membership eligibility must be attached. Applications shall be entered in a dedicated register and submitted to the Board of Directors at its first subsequent meeting. Applicants shall be formally notified of the decision (acceptance or rejection with cause).
• b. An applicant whose request is rejected may appeal the decision to the General Assembly at its next meeting, and the Assembly's decision shall be final.
• c. A rejected appellant may not reapply for membership until one full year has elapsed from the rejection of the appeal. In such an event, if the Board persists in rejection, the application shall be referred to the General Assembly for a final decision.
• d. Members must pay the admission fee within six months from the date of notification of acceptance and pay annual subscriptions on their due dates.

Article 8

• a. Membership is terminated by a decision of the Board of Directors in cases of change in line of business, dissolution, liquidation, merger, non-payment of dues for two consecutive years, or material breach of the Union’s Statute.
• b. A member may withdraw from the Union via an application submitted to the Board stating reasons. The Board shall review the application and attempt to remedy the underlying causes. A withdrawing member remains obligated to settle all dues for the year in which the withdrawal occurs.
• c. A member whose membership was terminated by the Board may appeal within three months of notification. The Chairman shall submit the appeal to the General Assembly, whose decision shall be final.
• d. Termination of membership forfeits the member's right to any sums previously paid to the Union.
• e. A former member may regain membership after one full year from termination or withdrawal, provided membership criteria are met and all outstanding liabilities toward the Union for the previous membership term are settled.

Chapter IV: Organs of the Union

Article 9

• a. The General Assembly.
• b. The Board of Directors.
• c. The General Secretariat.

Section 1: The General Assembly

Article 10

Article 11

Article 12

• a. Elect supplementary members of the Board of Directors.
• b. Review and approve the Union’s overall plan.
• c. Determine admission fees and annual membership dues.
• d. Review and approve the annual balance sheet, final accounts, and the auditor’s report.
• e. Review the Board’s annual report on the Union’s activities.
• f. Appoint the auditor for the subsequent fiscal year and determine their remuneration.
• g. Deliberate on any other matters related to the Union’s activities.

Article 13

Article 14

• a. The General Assembly holds an annual ordinary meeting. To validate attendance, members must have paid their dues up to the end of the preceding fiscal year. The Assembly may grant an exemption to attend upon presentation of an acceptable excuse.
• b. The quorum for an ordinary General Assembly meeting requires the attendance of a majority of Active Members (50% + 1), representing at least half of the member countries.
• c. In the absence of a quorum, the meeting shall be adjourned for 48 hours. The reconvened meeting shall be legally valid if attended by at least one-quarter of the Active Members, representing at least one-third of the member countries, provided attendance is not less than three members from two Arab countries.
• d. Each Active Member holds one vote. Resolutions are passed by a majority of votes present; in the event of a tie, the Chairman holds the casting vote.

Article 15

• 1. An extraordinary General Assembly meeting may be called upon request by one-third of Active Members representing at least three Arab countries, or at the request of the Board of Directors or the auditor, to address:
  
  
  • a. Amending the Statute of the Union.
  • b. Changing the Union's headquarters.
  • c. Dissolution of the Union.
  • d. Any urgent and material matters.
• 2. Invitations to extraordinary meetings must be sent at least thirty (30) days in advance, specifying the purpose. The quorum requires the attendance of at least 70% of all Active Members.
• 3. Decisions on the aforementioned matters require the approval of a two-thirds majority of all Active Members, representing at least three Arab countries, subject to ratification by the Council of Arab Economic Unity.

Section 2: The Board of Directors

Article 16

• 1. The Board of Directors shall consist of a number of Active Members equal to 1.5 times the number of member countries. Members belonging to each country shall elect one representative to the Board, and the General Assembly shall elect the supplementary members based on the highest votes obtained.
• 2. As an exception to paragraph (1), an interim Board of Directors shall be formed consisting of representatives of member states in the General Assembly. Its term concludes upon the election of the permanent Board at the subsequent General Assembly meeting pursuant to paragraph (1). The interim Board must convene the General Assembly within six months of its establishment.

Article 17

Article 18

Article 19

• 1. A Board seat becomes vacant in the following instances:
  
  
  • a. The entity represented loses an Active Membership requirement.
  • b. Dismissal of the representative by the entity they represent.
  • c. Acceptance of resignation.
  • d. Unexcused absence from two consecutive meetings.
  • e. Death or legal incapacity.
• 2. Vacancies shall be filled in accordance with Article 16 of this Statute.

Article 20

Article 21

Article 22

Article 23

• a. Adopt the Union’s action plan and submit it to the General Assembly for ratification.
• b. Form standing and temporary committees necessary for Union objectives.
• c. Adopt financial and administrative bylaws.
• d. Approve the organizational chart of the Union.
• e. Appoint the Secretary-General.
• f. Appoint and terminate key personnel of the General Secretariat.
• g. Determine cooperation frameworks with relevant entities within the Union’s scope.
• h. Prepare the annual report, estimated budget, balance sheet, and final accounts for General Assembly ratification.
• i. Decide on membership and withdrawal applications.
• j. Decide on the revocation/termination of membership.
• k. Settle disputes arising between members upon request.
• l. Declare vacancies on the Board and regulate their filling.

Article 24

Article 25

• a. The Board may invite any Union member to attend deliberations regarding issues of specific interest to that member, without voting rights. The Board may also invite expert advisors to attend.
• b. The Council of Arab Economic Unity and IDCAS may attend Board meetings in an observer capacity.

Section 3: The General Secretariat

Article 26

Article 27

Article 28

Article 29

• a. Draft agendas for Board meetings.
• b. Convey Board decisions and recommendations to members and track their implementation.
• c. Draft financial and administrative bylaws and organizational structures.
• d. Draft the budget and annual progress reports.
• e. Manage daily operational affairs of the Union.

Article 30

Article 31

Article 32

Chapter V: Financial Resources and Budget

Article 33

• a. Admission fees paid by members.
• b. Annual membership subscriptions determined by the General Assembly.
• c. Subsidies, grants, donations, and bequests approved by the Board.
• d. Revenue generated from Union-rendered services approved by the Board.

Article 34

Article 35

Chapter VI: The Auditor

Article 36

• a. The General Assembly appoints an external auditor annually based on nominations by the Board. The initial auditor is appointed by the Board of Directors.
• b. The auditor inspects and audits financial records, accesses books and documents, requests clarifications, verifies assets and liabilities, oversees cash inventory, and drafts the audit report on the final accounts and balance sheet.

Article 37

Article 38

Article 39

Chapter VII: Duration, Inception, and Dissolution

Article 40

Article 41

Article 42

Chapter VIII: General Provisions

Article 43

Article 44

Article 45

• a. The Secretary-General (or authorized representative) may attend meetings held within the scope of the Council of Arab Economic Unity or any Arab organization whose scope relates to the Union.
• b. The Secretary-General of the Council of Arab Economic Unity and heads of relevant Arab organizations (or their representatives) may attend meetings held within the scope of the Union.

Article 46

Article 47