RIYADH, 13 November 2006 — Saudi Arabia and Slovenia signed two agreements in Riyadh on Saturday. A 65- member Slovenian delegation headed by Prime Minister Janes Janas is on a visit to the Kingdom.
Prime Minister Janas, who held talks with Crown Prince Sultan, oversaw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Dr. Nizar Obaid Madani, state minister for foreign affairs and Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel and a subsequent general agreement between Dr. Madani and Slovenian Commerce Minister Amdrej Vizjak.
At a dinner hosted by Prince Sultan, the prime minister said the purpose of his visit to the Kingdom was to improve cooperation between the two countries which would be of mutual benefit.
Speaking to Saudi businessmen yesterday at the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI) at a reception held in his honor, Janas said the MOU is to enable both countries to conduct political. According to the MOU, he said the consultations would include international political developments, regional and international disputes and related issues. He explained that the general agreement would enhance bilateral relations in economic, educational, scientific, technological, cultural, information, tourism, youth and sports fields.
The prime minister said the new agreements coupled with the visit of a large business delegation representing 40 companies to the Kingdom, would open a new chapter in Saudi-Slovenian relations.
He pointed out that the two countries have great potential to develop business activities. Currently, he said Slovenian visas are issued by the Austrian Embassy in Riyadh and he would soon make arrangements to have political and economic representation in the Kingdom.
Slovenia will hold the presidency of the European Union in the first half of 2008.
CSCCI President Abdul Rahman Al-Rashid who presided over the businessmen’s meeting, said the two countries have not done much in the field of trade. “The bilateral trade has remained at $22.7 million during the past seven years,” he noted, adding that the reasons for the retarded progress in this field was mainly due to the nonexistence of diplomatic missions in each other’s countries. “We call upon the two governments to initiate actions to open diplomatic missions in the two countries that would boost bilateral economic and political cooperation.
“The Kingdom will have investment opportunities worth $624 billion in the coming years and these projects will include basic infrastructure projects for the economic cities, gas and petrochemical projects, desalination projects and construction of railway lines.” He added that Saudi exports reach more than 120 international markets.
Minister of Commerce and Industry Hashim Yamani said the two countries are strategically located to supply goods to a large group of importing countries.”It’s time that we got together to do better business to enable our joint efforts to bear fruits in the manufacturing fields.”
The premier also called on Riyadh Gov. Prince Salman and discussed matters of mutual interest. Austrian Ambassador Stift Friedrick was also present at the meeting with the Riyadh governor. The premier will open a joint venture factory at the Middle East Electric Meter Factory in the industrial area today. Some Saudis in the factory have undergone training in Slovenia.