At the outset, I would like to congratulate all the Saudi agencies responsible for Haj management for the smooth and safe conduct of Haj 2010 (1431 H). Indeed, the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has left no stone unturned to provide the best possible facilities to the guests of God.

From the Indian perspective also, this Haj has been one of the smoothest in recent years. We take this opportunity to thank various Saudi agencies for extending their wholehearted cooperation and support to the Indian Haj Mission and helping it in making satisfactory arrangements for Indian pilgrims.

India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have enjoyed special relations based on several millennia of civilization and cultural links and people-to-people exchanges.

King Abdullah’s historic visit to India in January 2006 was a landmark in our bilateral relations and the recent visit to Saudi Arabia by our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has heralded a new era in Indo-Saudi relations which culminated in the signing of the “Riyadh Declaration” outlining a new era of strategic partnership between the two countries in the security, economic, defense and political areas.

There has been a healthy growth in India’s bilateral trade with the Kingdom, which now exceeds $21 billion, including import of crude oil and products. India continues to be the fifth largest market for Saudi goods. Our own exports to the Kingdom have registered an impressive growth of over 37 percent in 2008-09. Several prestigious business houses of India have expressed their keen interest to take advantage of the growing opportunities for trade and investments in the Kingdom.

The Indian expatriate community in the Kingdom has played a pivotal role in enhancing the image of our country. The Indian Diaspora here has earned extraordinary love, warmth and dignity in the hearts of our Saudi brothers and sisters by its sincerity, sense of dedication, discipline and quality of output at workplaces.

Sayeed Ahmed Baba

Consul General of India