Hawke, who is currently heading a 15-member trade delegation to the Saudi capital, made his remarks in Riyadh on Saturday in response to the inaugural speech made by Abdullah Al-Mobty, board member of the Saudi Council of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) and president of the Abha Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“Australia is a highly competitive country economically with a quality education system, which means that Saudis wishing to study abroad in Australia can depend on a safe and secure society, quality education of world standards and friendly people,” said Hawke.

He said that the blending of approximately 170 nationalities has enriched Australia and its culture

A large number of Saudi students are choosing to study in Australia, mostly under the King Abdullah Scholarship Program. In 2009, 12,500 Saudi students were enrolled in Australian educational institutions in a wide range of fields including health, IT, business and accounting. As at April 2010, over 9,000 were studying in Australia.

There are over 3,000 Australian citizens employed in Saudi Arabia, mainly in health, education and other specialist areas.