JEDDAH, 18 January 2007 — Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA) Governor Amr Al-Dabbagh yesterday said his agency was working in close coordination with the private sector in order to remove all obstacles that impede investment opportunities.

Speaking at the signing ceremony of SAGIA’s partnership program with Dr. Walid Fitaihi’s International Medical Center (IMC), Al-Dabbagh said SAGIA was keen on providing all help to both local and foreign investors.

“We, at SAGIA, want to advance cooperation between public and private sectors,” he said.

Al-Dabbagh said he appreciated Dr. Fitaihi’s efforts in establishing the IMC and said it would be a model for other investors to follow.

“IMC’s first-of-its-kind partnership with Cleveland Clinic Foundation has shown the way for others to follow suit,” said Al-Dabbagh.

The SAGIA and IMC chiefs signed an agreement of partnership that allows IMC experts to work at SAGIA for a specific period for the benefit of both sides. IMC experts “loaned” to SAGIA under the agreement would hold leadership positions in order to provide inspiration and guidance to SAGIA employees.

In exchange for providing the leadership training service, SAGIA would help IMC gain visibility through its website and high-quality magazine that is distributed among the heads of the world’s Top 500 companies. The employees loaned from IMC would return to the center having gained valuable experience from a top-rated government agency.

Al-Dabbagh thanked IMC for joining the leadership program along with other companies in the Kingdom.

“Our strategy is centered on providing quick and excellent services to the private sector as well as to Saudi and foreign investors. We’ll work closely with other related government agencies to create a healthy business climate to attract investment,” he said.

Al-Dabbagh said SAGIA and the private sector must work as one team to create a solid ground for investment and remove obstacles facing it.

“This requires a spirit of understanding and a positive cooperation between the two sides,” he added.

Dr. Fitaihi said SAGIA is trying to identify those industries that provide value-added services to society and to help them excel in their field.

“This is a global village and I am of the view that we should open up and try to find win-win solutions and expertise from around the world,” said Dr. Fitaihi. “Our mission at IMC is to pioneer the model of healing mind, body and soul by keeping in view the best ethics and standards,” he said.

“We think of ourselves as a paradigm shift in health care delivery in terms of standards,” he said, adding, “We want this to be a place that people know, trust and feel comfortable in as patients.

“This is why IMC teamed up with the Cleveland Clinic which is known worldwide for its history, ethics and its leadership in all specialties of medicine, especially heart surgery.”

Dr. Fitaihi said the 300-bed state-of-the-art hospital, which was formally inaugurated by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah last year, was receiving high praise.

“We are in the process of trying to understand our patients. The response is very good. We have had patients that would have otherwise gone abroad. Thanks to excellent facilities at our center, they are coming to us,” he said. “It is saving them money and effort and they are more than happy with the care they are receiving at IMC.”

The SR500 million health care center is receiving medical cases not only from within the Kingdom but also from the entire Arab world, especially Yemen and Sudan. “Remember we have not even started our international marketing,” said Fitaihi.

Among other things, the IMC includes a pharmacy, rehabilitation center, health clubs, an auditorium and learning centers for patient use.