RIYADH, 1 July 2005 — Saudi Arabia and India have signed an agreement for training of diplomats and exchange of information and expertise. According to the agreement, Saudi diplomats will be trained at the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) of India, which organizes training programs for foreign diplomats and conducts research programs and roundtable discussions on international issues.
Saleh Mohammed Al-Ghamdi, Saudi ambassador to India, told Arab News by telephone from New Delhi on Wednesday that the MOU was signed between the Information and Studies Center (ISC) of the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the FSI, which is managed by the Indian External Affairs Ministry, early this week. Prince Mohammad ibn Saud ibn Khalid, ambassador and director general of ISC, and Atish Sinha, dean of FSI, signed the agreement in the presence of Al-Ghamdi.
This agreement will facilitate the study tour of Saudi diplomats to the Delhi-based FSI, a prime destination for trainee diplomats, especially from Third World countries. Ambassador Al-Ghamdi said that this MOU would also ensure exchange of information and expertise between the two countries and forge closer cooperation in the fields of research and diplomatic studies including training and deputation of diplomats in New Delhi and Riyadh.
“It is a major development which indicates the growing Saudi-Indian relations,” said Al-Ghamdi. “The future will witness more joint events, more MOUs and closer cooperation with India in various fields.” He said that relations between Riyadh and New Delhi were rapidly expanding and this agreement would facilitate contacts in the fields of diplomatic studies and information exchange.”
The ISC of Saudi Arabia gathers information and research materials for the Saudi Foreign Ministry and works to promote exchange program of diplomats with other countries. It has embarked on a major plan to build databases of countries, events, people, institutions, agreements and conventions, government meetings, maps and rare photos.
