Indian minister arrives today to hold talks with Fakeih

Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, who arrives today, heading a high-power Indian delegation, will hold talks with Labor Minister Adel Fakeih in Jeddah on Sunday. Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed and Adviser to Indian Prime Minister T. K. A. Nair will be part of the delegation.
The decision to send the Indian officials to Saudi Arabia was taken after Ravi met Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently and discussed with him the fallout of the new Saudi labor policy.
Ravi will convey India’s concern to the Saudi side, said an Indian diplomatic source, adding that the possible job losses to Indian nationals due to implementation of the new Saudi labor law are the main concerns.
The source said that during its four-day visit to Jeddah and Riyadh, the delegation will hold meetings with the Saudi labor minister and other Saudi government officials. The delegation will also interact with Indian community in Riyadh and Jeddah.
He said the new policy in Saudi Arabia will create temporary problems for the Indian expatriates. But, it will not create problems for legal workers.
“We can bring the problems faced by the Indians to the notice of Saudi officials, making use of the cordial relations between the two countries,” he said. More than two million Indians are living and working in Saudi Arabia.