JEDDAH, 29 May 2007 — Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal yesterday chaired a meeting of the Makkah Regional Council and urged officials to carry out all development projects, approved by the current budget, without delay.
“There is standing instructions from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan to government agencies to quickly implement the projects approved by the 2007 budget,” the governor told the meeting.
Prince Khaled, who was appointed Makkah governor on May 16 following the death of Prince Abdul Majeed, emphasized the regional council’s role in boosting development, improving services and enhancing cooperation between the private and public sectors.
The meeting agreed to set up a permanent committee to follow up projects of community development centers in the Makkah region. It approved proposals to establish public utility facilities in Qunfuda, open a branch of the Commerce and Industry Ministry in Rabigh and establish a girls college in Khulais.
The meeting reviewed the outcome of a media campaign to enhance public awareness about the regional council. The campaign aims at expanding public participation in the region’s development affairs. Citizens are requested to present their views and proposals either through telephone or letters or the Internet.
Special boxes will be placed at government offices to collect such proposals. The outcome of the meetings of the council and other regional bodies will be publicized through the media to help people know about developments in the region.
A television program will be produced and a website will be set up for the purpose.
Also yesterday, Prince Khaled held talks with Jordanian Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Osama Al-Dabbas on prospects of expanding cooperation between the two countries in the tourism sector. The governor approved a proposal to name Jeddah “the Bride of Arab Tourism,” the Saudi Press Agency said.
