RIYADH, 25 May 2003 — The Saudi Committee for the Development of International Trade (CIT) plans to invite delegations from Europe, the Far East and North America as part of a drive to counter negative reporting on Saudi Arabia and provide first-hand experience of life in the Kingdom to opinion-makers abroad.
In the first meeting, a British parliamentary delegation met with Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal recently. Prince Saud expressed his condolences to the British families who suffered losses in the May 12 bombings in Riyadh.
He also provided a Saudi perspective of the road map for peace in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute, pointing out that it included the Beirut Arab Summit Declaration. The delegation also held talks with Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Hashem Yamani, Governor of Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) Prince Abdullah ibn Faisal ibn Turki, Dr. Fahad Al-Sultan, secretary-general of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Omar Bahlaiwa, secretary-general of CIT.
Dr. Yamani briefed the delegation on the economic reforms, including the process of privatization, investment opportunities and various initiatives to combat the unemployment problem. The problems of negative media coverage of Saudi Arabia were also discussed.
The MPs brought up the issue of British prisoners in the Kingdom and expressed the hope that this could be resolved as a step in improving Saudi-British ties.
Later, Dr. Fahad Al-Sultan told Arab News that the Saudi group had explained to the visiting delegation the dimensions of the Saudi economy which holds 26 percent of the world’s oil reserves and has been ranked fourth in terms of natural gas resources.
Addressing concerns among the delegates about girls’ education, Dr. Fahad said that 52 percent of students enrolled for public education are girls.
Mr. Bahlaiwa said the delegates visited the Shoura Council, a hospital, a school and the industrial township to enable them to correct their perceptions about the Kingdom. During their visit, the Saudis were able to address their concerns relating to women’s education, living in an Islamic environment, and overcoming obstacles in the development of Saudi-British relations.
