ABHA, 9 July 2007 — A three-day “Asir India Festival,” which was organized by the Consulate General of India in association with the Asir Governorate, concluded at the Abha Palace Hotel on Friday.
The festival, which was opened by Dr. Mohammed ibn Mohammed Issa, assistant undersecretary of the Governorate of the Asir Region, was widely attended by local officials, entrepreneurs, businesspeople, media representatives and local Indians.
The festival showcased catalogs of major Indian companies and was marked by an Indian tourism road show, a presentation on educational opportunities in India and a photo exhibition of India’s monuments by well-known freelance photographer and journalist K.N. Wasif.
On Thursday, children presented a cultural program and on Friday the Indian Education Council organized an interactive seminar on “Success Through Self Esteem.” A medical camp was also organized by leading Indian doctors and paramedics in the region, which was attended by more than 200 residents. During the three-day event, an Indian food festival was organized concurrently at the Abha Palace Hotel.
Indian Ambassador M.O.H. Farook outlined historical and deep-rooted relations between the Kingdom and India, and also highlighted the potential for tourism and investments.
Consul General Dr. Ausaf Sayeed invited businessmen of the region to visit India to explore new avenues for trade and joint ventures.
He suggested that a memorandum of understanding could be concluded between the Saudi-Indian Business Network and the Abha Chamber of Commerce and Industry to bring attention to the region.
The festival was organized with the participation of the Saudi-Indian Business Network, the Indian Education Council, the India Forum and various Indian associations in Asir. This was the first time that the region saw an Indian cultural festival.
