Okaz/Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — A major chunk of the annual remittance, exceeding SR140 billion, by expatriates in Saudi Arabia may have accrued from commercial cover-up (tasattur), leading economists told Okaz/Saudi Gazette on Tuesday. They said it was impossible to ascertain the exact number of tasattur cases as the businesses are run legally as per the licenses issued by competent authorities in the Kingdom. The economists spoke to Okaz/Saudi Gazette a day after the government set up a ministerial committee to tackle the tasattur phenomenon and suggest ways and means to combat the menace. The committee has also been tasked with supervision of the implementation of initiatives to measure the performance of all concerned parties while following up compliance with the recommended measures. Economic analyst Nasser Al-Qar’awi said the currently applied mechanism of naming and shaming those providing tasattur contributes to curbing illegal commercial practices. He said the huge volume of this phenomenon is explained by expat remittances exceeding SR140 billion annually. He said there was a desperate need to tighten the screws on tasattur by having a money transfer card application (app) for expatriates that includes his net monthly salary duly signed by his sponsor. He said there were many individuals, institutions and companies that are being used as a cover for remittances in exchange for money from the transfer value. Abdulhakeem Al-Khalidi, chairman of Asharqia Chamber, said commercial cover-up costs the Saudi economy millions of riyals annually, and the government has been seeking to reduce it for several years now through a series of legislations and measures. Bandar Al-Jabri, a member of the Board of Directors of the Asharqia Chamber, said the committee is expected to lay down necessary steps and appropriate solutions to stand in the way of commercial cover-up, which will pave the way for completely eradicating the phenomenon. Dr. Abdullah Al-Maghlouth, member of the Saudi Economic Society, said the committee will limit commercial violations, especially when the goods are adulterated, expired or are of inferior quality.