I am proud to have this opportunity, as the Australian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, to congratulate the government and people of the Kingdom on the occasion of your National Day. Saudi Arabia is the cultural, political and economic heart of the Arabian Peninsula, and Australia has deep respect for your nation’s achievements.
There are some obvious similarities between Australia and Saudi Arabia. We are both large, sparsely populated and have great expanses of desert. Both countries are blessed with abundant natural resources, and both have a population of around 20 million. But some of the things we have in common are less obvious. For instance, there are approximately 500,000 Arab and Muslim Australians whose hearts are always close to Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam. We share an interest also in protecting global security and stability. Australia was proud to participate in the international coalition to liberate Kuwait and has continued to participate in international efforts since then to preserve the security of the Gulf region. We understand and support Saudi Arabia’s stabilizing role in the Middle East including His Royal Highness, Crown Prince Abdullah’s initiative, now the Arab initiative, to bring resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We both hold to the vision, affirmed by the United Nations Security Council, of a region where two states, Israel and Palestine, live side by side in peace within secure and recognized borders.
We also share economic interests, we are both oil producers and we have a strengthening bilateral economic relationship. Two-way trade last year totaled SR8.3 billion, confirming Saudi Arabia as Australia’s most important trading partner in the Middle East. Australia is proud of its reputation as a traditional supplier of superior, wholesome agricultural products but other products are now more important to our trading relationship, and are growing much faster. Motor vehicle exports from Australia to Saudi Arabia — Chevrolet Caprices and Luminas, Toyota Camrys and Mitsubishi Magnas — are now worth close to SR3 billion per annum. Saudi Arabia is a very important market indeed for our manufacturers, and for many Australian professionals who are already working here in the service sector.
In turn, Australia’s imports from Saudi Arabia last year also were worth close to SR3 billion — mostly petroleum and fertilizers and there are many other opportunities for cooperation, and much work to be done. For instance, scope exists for growth in education and academic exchanges, in the sharing of expertise in agriculture and water resources, in health services and environmental science, in transport infrastructure and information technology. My Saudi friends also see Australia as an attractive and friendly destination for Saudi tourists, with excellent infrastructure, shopping and climate, and Saudi Arabia has much to offer Australian visitors — particularly those interested in history and Islamic culture. Tourism and educational exchanges also allow personal links to develop and grow. I hope during the next year we will see further improvement of such links, and many more long-lasting friendships and business relationships being formed between Saudis and Australians.
Congratulations to the government and people of Saudi Arabia, and may the next year bring everyone and their families in this wonderful country good health, prosperity, much happiness and God’s blessings.
Robert J. Tyson
Ambassador of Australia
