JEDDAH: India’s new Consul General to Jeddah Sayeed Ahmed Baba assumed charge on Wednesday to succeed Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, who has been consul general since 2004. The formal takeover ceremony of the charge will be held today, sources said.
The outgoing Consul General Sayeed will take up his new job at the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. Sayeed, an Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of 1989 batch, will take up his new assignment in Delhi.
Earlier, B.S. Mubarak assumed charge as consul Haj on June 28. Mubarak, an IFS officer of 2001 batch, succeeded Dr. Suhel Ejaz Khan, another IFS officer of 1997 batch, who completed his tenure in Jeddah and is leaving for New Delhi.
Earlier, speaking to Arab News, Baba, a 1988-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, said his top priorities include further streamlining the management of the Haj and boosting Indo-Saudi ties.
“My first and foremost priority is to further improve the facilities for Haj pilgrims and to strengthen ties between India and Saudi Arabia,” he said.
Baba, a West Bengal cadre officer, prior to coming over to Jeddah, was private secretary to Saifuddin Soz, minister of water resources.
