JEDDAH, 16 October 2006 — Indian expertise can play a distinct role in further augmenting Saudi Arabia’s efforts in education and IT, M.O.H.F. Shahjahan, a minister from the southern Indian state of Pondicherry, said here on Friday night.
Shahjahan, son of Indian Ambassador M.O.H. Farook, who is in charge of education, IT, fisheries, transport, and art and culture, told a reception hosted by Jeddah’s Tamil community that he would welcome a delegation from the Kingdom to visit his state and explore its vast investment potential. “We’ve among the best infrastructure in education, IT, tourism and fisheries,” said Shahjahan who became a minister in the Congress-led government recently.
“Electricity is the cheapest in our state, which holds immense scope for joint venture projects,” Shahjahan said. The state already has a number of educational institutions to boast including six medical colleges.
“We’re also considering the establishment of a university,” he said and referred to some ongoing plans including an IT corridor and Rajiv Gandhi Knowledge Park.
The state is rich in tourism like the rest of the country, he said and laid emphasis on promoting medical tourism that the region excels in.
The state is trying its best to overcome the water shortage, he said and welcomed overseas collaborations to tackle the problem. “If anyone can bring a cost-effective desalination plant to our state, we’ll welcome that,” the minister said.
The ambassador said the minister should consider measures that would help non-resident Indian (NRI) students from here and elsewhere in other overseas locations.
“There ought to be a quota of seats for such overseas students in your institutions,” he said.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and consulate in Jeddah are addressing various labor issues, he said and spoke in favor of completely banning the export of housemaids from India.
“There is an unofficial ban but that’s not enough, as problems related to the maids are mounting,” he said.
Community members urged the minister to consider the setting up of a cell for non-resident Indians like some Indian states have done.
