RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has appointed veteran diplomat Faisal Hassan Trad as its new ambassador to India. Trad will replace senior diplomat Saleh Al-Ghamdi, who has been named the Kingdom’s new ambassador to Greece, said a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Trad is still in Tokyo and will be relocated to New Delhi in the near future,” said the source.
Speaking from Athens over the telephone, Al-Ghamdi said he had a long inning in India, where he was instrumental in changing the dynamics of bilateral ties.
“I have already presented my credentials in Greece,” said Al-Ghamdi, pointing out that Greece could be a potential partner of Riyadh, as it is a strategic link to the sizeable markets of the Balkans, the Black Sea, eastern Europe and the East Mediter-ranean regions.
Trad, 54, has served in several diplomatic missions including in London and Brussels. He served as ambassador to the Arab League in Cairo from 2001 to 2004.
Trad studied economics at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, and has held several key membership positions and posts in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His appointment as new envoy to India is seen as an important assignment after Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah paid a visit to New Delhi in 2006 and signed the famous Delhi declaration.
A major task before Trad will be to sustain the momentum of the growing Saudi-Indian partnership after the royal visit. India is also the fourth largest trading partner of Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, the Indian government has extended Ambassador M.O.H. Farook’s term by six months. Farook, a high-profile politician-turned diplomat, has been asked by New Delhi to continue until June next year.
Asked about the tenure’s extension, while there were rumors that he will be leaving Riyadh on Dec. 20 to become the Indian ambassador to the Maldives, Farook said the Indian government wants him to continue until the middle of next year until after the upcoming general elections.
“Only yesterday, I received communication from New Delhi about the extension of my term and I am happy that I have a few more months to serve the Indian pilgrims in particular and the huge Indian Diaspora living in this country in general,” he said.
