JEDDAH, 6 January — Work on a multimillion-riyal Islamic Cultural Center close to the new international airport in Athens is progressing well, according to Greek Consul General Vassilios Moutsoglou.
"The project, covering an area of 35,000 square meters, will have a big mosque. It’s being built with the assistance of Saudi Arabia and certain other Arab and Islamic countries," he said.
"We’re keen on completing the project ahead of the 2004 Athens Olympics so that Muslim athletes and participants can take advantage of the facilities at the center," Moutsoglou added.
Greece, with a Muslim population of 100,000, has 250 mosques. The consul general said the Muslim presence is particularly strong in northern Greece.
About 500 Greeks are expected to perform Haj this year, 150 more than last year. They will mostly fly by the country’s national carrier Olympic Airways, which will also transport pilgrims from other parts of Europe and America.
Greek expatriates in the Kingdom number less than 1,000.
Moutsoglou said his country was working on a plan for exchange of high level visits with the Kingdom. The next joint economic commission meeting will be held in Riyadh on a mutually agreed date, he said.
Greece is now keen on improving its trade relations with the Kingdom. Greek imports from the Kingdom rose to $953.88 million in 2000 from a mere $33.7 million in 1990. The country’s exports to the Kingdom dropped to $57.96 million in 2000 from a peak of $142.03 million in 1994.
One of the three refineries in Greece is a 20-year-old joint venture with Saudi Aramco, located on the Cornish near Athens. A joint venture active in the Kingdom’s services sector. Besides, there are other ventures like Saudi Archirodon, a construction company, and some smaller firms offering shipping services.
Greece receives 12 million tourists from the world over annually, but only 10,000 of them are from the Kingdom, the consul general said.
About Greek interests in the Kingdom’s investment and tourism sectors, he said: "We’ve suggested to the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry about our expertise in cruise ships to promote tourism."
