In celebrating the Greek National Day as the hallmark of the heroic struggle of the Greek people to achieve its national goals of freedom and independence, I wish to extend first my warm greetings to the fellow Greeks, who reside and work in this hospitable country, in Jeddah and the Western Region in particular.
Saudi Arabia and Greece are two friendly countries since a very long time. Friendship and cooperation characterize the overall spectrum of their bilateral relations throughout the ages. The political relations rely on solid foundations reinforced by the common belonging in a geographical area of great significance from political, cultural and economic point of view.
Both of us believe that the rules of the International Law and the avoidance of the use of force in international relations have utmost importance and that any problem between or, sometimes, within states, should be solved through diplomatic means, on the basis of a settlement accepted by all parties involved.
Saudi Arabia is blessed with a vast amount of natural resources in her soil. She has used it with care and prudence for the sake of her people’s long-term prosperity as a far-reaching goal, without overlooking the international community’s legitimate energy needs.
Taking into consideration some, crucial factors, such as the reforms introduced by the Saudi government to attract foreign investments, the potential of Greece, a country which is member of the European Union and the Economic and Monetary Union, and the ingenuity of both Saudi and Greek businessmen communities coupled with the political will to further develop contacts and exchanges among them and their respective countries, underline the two sides determination to exploit the wide perspectives ahead and open new chapters of cooperation.
Indeed, many recent high level visits and delegations including businessmen, participation in events and commercial expos are clear manifestations of the ever-growing progress in our economic relations.
Among other examples, we must mention, the official visit to the Kingdom of H.E. Karolos Papoulias, president of the republic, accompanied by a big group of businessmen, the Greek Arab Economic Forum in Athens with strong Saudi attendance, the opening of the Jizan Industrial Zone with anticipated cooperation between Greek and Saudi companies.
A long-awaited Greek-Saudi Inter Ministerial meeting, as provided in the bilateral Agreement for Economic Cooperation, will take place in the near future. The two countries have initialed an agreement for the mutual protection of Investments and they have signed the agreement for tax exemption in the air transportation sector.
Under consideration are agreements for cooperation in the cultural, maritime and tourist fields. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Greek Industrialist Union and the Union of the Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry has been concluded more than a year ago and we expect the formation of a Business Council from the respective Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
A Catalogue Show of Greek products is foreseen to open to the public soon, in the CCI of Jeddah. We believe finally that, the activities and the exchanges between the two business communities will take a further impulse when regular direct flights between Saudi Arabia and Greece resume, not only in the summer, but all year round,
I wish to conclude with stressing the dynamism of the partnership between our nations at all levels, which, along with the moral values and common interests they shore both, are the guarantee for further progress in their relations, to the benefit of the two peoples.
Dr. Dimitrios Zavoritis
Consul General of Greece
