RIYADH, 7 October — Austrian President Thomas Klestil will start a four-day visit to the Kingdom on Oct. 14, Austria’s ambassador in Riyadh said yesterday.
Klestil will hold talks with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, on developments in the wake of the Sept. 11 terror attacks in the United States and the situation in the Middle East, Ambassador Harold Wiesner told Arab News.
The delegation accompanying President Klestil will include Minister of Economic Affairs M. Bartenstein, Minister of Defense H. Scheibner, President of Austrian Chamber of Commerce and Industry C. Leitl, leading businessmen and journalists.
During his stay in Riyadh, the Austrian president will also hold talks with Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, Minister of Interior Prince Naif and Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al-Faisal.
Asked if any agreement would be signed during the presidential visit, the ambassador replied in the negative. However, the subject of a proposed agreement on avoidance of double taxation will be raised by the Austrian side as a follow-up to the protection of investment agreement signed by the two countries this June.
President Klestil will round off his Riyadh visit with a call on Riyadh Governor Prince Salman and an address at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He will also speak to businessmen at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Referring to the bilateral relations, Dr. Matthias Prader, commercial counselor at the Austrian Embassy, said Austrian exports to the Kingdom stand at $200 million a year, while its imports from this country are valued at $160 million. He said the exports were expected to increase by 20 percent this year.
Austria has also boosted its market share in the Kingdom’s domestic tourism by landing a major contract for installation of a cable car project in Taif.
Prader said Austria will participate in the Saudi Build Exhibition that starts in Riyadh today. “The country’s participation in these exhibitions is in line with its practice of maintaining a strong presence in the Kingdom’s major international events,” he added.
