RIYADH, 20 March 2006 — Saudi Arabia and Austria have set out a broad vision off relationship with several new cooperation proposals in the fields of politics, health, human resource development and commerce being discussed by the two sides during the visit of Austrian President Dr. Heinz Fischer. An Austrian organization has been chosen to provide consultancy to the Kingdom’s Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF), which in setting up a project called King Fahd Employment Center (KFEC).
Addressing a “Saudi-Austrian Business Forum” here yesterday, Fischer said that “Vienna would cooperate with the Kingdom in the field of human resource development.”
The KFEC is a major initiative funded by the HRDF with a mandate to work toward training and employment of Saudi job seekers, said Dr. Mohammed Al-Sahlawi, who presented an overview of the Kingdom’s human resources development plan. In the health sector, Maria Rauch Kalat, Austrian minister of health and women affairs, said that Austrian officials would sign an agreement with Prince Sultan Humanitarian City here today. Under the agreement, Austrian experts will provide consultancy and training, especially in the areas of rehabilitation, to Prince Sultan City personnel.
Fischer, in the context of Saudization, said that Austria would help design and provide vocational training to the young Saudi population in a move to enable the Kingdom to nationalize its workforce.
Asked about the position of Austria, which also holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, on the Danish cartoon row, he said: “Our position has been applauded by the Austrian Muslim community. I, in the capacity of the EU president, also used the opportunity to urge the 25 EU members to show respect to Islam or any other religion.”
Referring to the role of Austrian companies, Fischer said that the business gentry of the two countries had evinced keen interest in doing business together. He noted several Austrian companies are interested to work in Saudi Arabia, which he called as “economic powerhouse” and said that many Austrian firms like Alpine have executed large projects like Hadeed. He called on Saudi businessmen to derive “benefits from Austria, which lies in the heart of European continent, serving as a gate for European market.”
The business meeting was attended by Gunther Platter, Austrian defense minister; Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid, chairman of the Council of Saudi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI) and Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy, CSCCI’s vice chairman besides a large number of businessmen.