RIYADH, 24 March — Saudi businessmen have asked their American counterparts to take steps to ensure their safe and secure movement in the United States. They raised this demand during a meeting with visiting US businessmen at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, following the reports of attacks against and harassment of Saudis after the Sept. 11 events.
“I have an office in America. I have not visited it since Sept. 11 after hearing reports of harassment. I would like to get a definite answer on this question on behalf of all Saudi businessmen,” Khalaf Al-Khalaf, a Saudi businessman, told the joint meeting in Riyadh yesterday.
Gore Robinson, the head of the US delegation and director of international trade at the economic development office in the state of Virginia, told the Saudis that there was no change in the attitude of Americans after the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
The Saudi side also asked the Americans to intervene to stop the ongoing smear campaign in the US press against Saudi Arabia, Arabs and Islam.
The American side, on their part, said they did not agree with the general trend of the Western press.
Hussein Al-Athel, secretary-general of the chamber, told Arab News that the visit of the US delegation was coordinated by the Saudi-American Business Council, adding that the delegation included representatives of major American companies.
“The delegation is seeking cooperation with Saudi businessmen and looking for agents for their companies in the Kingdom,” he said.
The American side has emphasized that the Kingdom still remained a major center for trade and investment, he added.
“The Americans told us that the Sept. 11 events had not changed their attitude toward Saudi Arabia. In fact, it only deepened the commitment of Americans who love the Kingdom, in light of measures taken by Riyadh in support of Washington’s war on terrorism,” he said.
“The words of Americans during the talks were warm and friendly, underscoring the deep-rooted relations between the two countries and peoples,” Al-Athel said, adding that the Sept. 11 events had no negative effects on Saudi-US trade.
Saudi imports from the US during 2000 totaled SR21.8 billion against SR59 billion in exports. During the first three quarters of 2001, the imports from the US stood at SR16 billion.
The US delegation’s visit to the Kingdom was aimed at strengthening cooperation in commercial and investment fields. The delegation included representatives from companies engaged in health insurance, medical labs, computer systems, information technology, satellites, oil, security equipment and systems, communications, petrochemical industry, water treatment. Saudi businessmen discussed with the Americans prospects of establishing joint ventures, transfer of technology and promoting trade.
