Malaysian envoy completes tenure

Malaysian Ambassador Syed Omar Al-Saggaf will be leaving Riyadh this week after completing his tenure as ambassador of Malaysia to Saudi Arabia.
A graduate from the Islamic University in Madinah, Al-Saggaf was a political appointee whose term was extended for another year thanks to his role in attracting more Saudi tourists to his country.
The number of tourist arrivals from the Kingdom swelled to 100,000 under his tenure. He also concluded numerous agreements with the Saudi government and major Saudi companies in the areas of security and higher education.
Trade volume between the two countries increased to more than SR15 billion under his tenure. Al-Saggaf was seen several times delivering keynote speeches on behalf of other Asian ambassadors on various occasions in the Kingdom.
The Malaysian Embassy hosted a reception on Wednesday night on the occasion of its 56th National Day and a farewell party for its departing envoy. The event was attended by Acting Governor of Riyadh, Prince Turki bin Abdullah, and a number of diplomats and media representatives. Ambassador Alaudeen A. Alaskary, deputy minister for protocol affairs, was also present.
Speaking to Arab News about his experience, Al-Saggaf said: “I am lucky to have a good command of the Arabic language. Because of this, I received very warm treatment from my brethren in Saudi Arabia.”
The departing envoy said he will miss the people of Saudi Arabia, his friends, diplomats and media representatives who had been supportive of him during his long tenure.

“I take the opportunity to express my gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah, Crown Prince Salman and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, for their hospitality and special consideration for Malaysia,” he said.
He also expressed his happiness in serving his countrymen and those who came for Haj and Umrah.
According to a report drafted by the Middle East Institute, Malaysia’s External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) encouraged businesses to tap into the Saudi market through the Kingdom’s Ninth Five-Year Development Plan between 2010 and 2014.
Malaysian companies have been actively pursuing business opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
They have, for example, undertaken major development projects, including the Shuaibah Independent Water and Power Project, Al-Faisal University in Riyadh and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Thuwal.

They have also improved the Jamarat Bridge and surrounding areas in Mina, constructed the Kingdom Tower in Riyadh, participated in the township development of Jazan Economic City and supported the Jabal Omar development project in Makkah.

The report said that bilateral trade rose from $ 260 million in 1990 to $ 3.66 billion in 2012. Saudi Arabia has emerged as Malaysia’s 19th largest trading partner, 22nd largest export destination and 16th largest source of imports.