JEDDAH, 13 August 2003 — The newly appointed deputy governor of the Asir region, Prince Faisal ibn Khaled, has urged the private sector to play a significant role in improving and expanding public services.
“The state has spent a huge sum of money during the construction phase. Now it’s the turn of the private sector to improve these services and expand them on a large scale,” he told Arab News.
He said he would work for the improvement of health and communication services in the region.
“I would like to see a four-lane highway linking Abha and Taif as this would be good for tourism,” he added.
The new deputy governor also pledged that he would use his contacts with officials and businessmen to boost overall development in the region.
Prince Faisal, a graduate of San Mateo University in California in the United States, expressed his happiness over the confidence put in him by the Saudi leadership.
He was happy to be appointed the deputy governor of Asir, a region known for its healthy climate and breathtaking natural scenery.
The prince visited the Asir region last month as a member of a delegation with Prince Sultan, second deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation.
“Prince Sultan was the one who informed me about my new appointment,” he said.
Prince Faisal, who was born in 1954, is the son of King Khaled, the Kingdom’s ruler before Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd.
He is deputy chairman of the King Khaled Charitable Foundation, chairman of Arab Printing and Publishing House and a member of the Arab Thought Foundation.
Prince Faisal was had praise for Asir Governor Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.
“I am lucky and honored to work with Prince Khaled, who is one of the most experienced governors in the country,” he added. He also praised “the generous, noble and loving people of Asir.”
The new deputy governor is an enthusiastic horseman who owns a stable of thoroughbreds which have won major races and equestrian prizes.
