RIYADH, 3 April 2008 — Saudi Arabia and India should forge a strategic relationship and enhance their roles in the developing world, speakers at a meeting here said
Speaking at a conference on Saudi-Indian relationship, Saudi Ambassador to India Saleh M. Al-Ghamdi said, “The security interests of Riyadh and New Delhi will be best served by a strong strategic cooperation that needs to be supplemented by an equally strong commercial and cultural relation.”
The two-day event, organized by the Institute of Diplomatic Studies and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was officially opened by Ambassador Saad Alamar, chief of the Institute of Diplomatic Studies, while the opening session was presided over by Dr. Sadaka Yehia Fadil, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Shoura Council. Rajeev Shahare, charge d’ affaires at the Indian Embassy presided over one of the sessions.
A number of speakers from the Kingdom and India have been invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to speak at the conference. Prominent speakers from India include Professor Mushirul Hassan, vice chancellor of India’s Jamia Millia Islamia University; Professor Girijesh Pant, director of Gulf Studies Program at Jawaherlal Nehru University; and Arun Patankar, co-chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry.
Several proposals were presented at the meeting to promote Saudi-India strategic relationship. Those included setting up of an exclusive Indo-Arab University, motivating more Saudi students to go to India for higher studies, activating the existing Saudi-Indian Business Council, establishing a business conclave and holding closer interactions in cultural fields — like nominating India as a guest country in the Janadriya Festival.
Referring to the need to forge a strategic partnership, Professor Girijesh Pant said: “Economy is driving India’s global strategic perspective in a big way.
In future, India will be looking at the Gulf region as part of its global profile and Saudi Arabia as a strategic energy partner can be contributor to India’s power quotient.” He said that it was of vital interest to India to have strategic understanding with Saudi Arabia.
“India will have to reassure Arab states about the nature of its increasing links with Israel, which should not be at the cost of Arab causes like Palestine issue,” said Professor Khaled N. Al-Habbas of King Abdulaziz University.
Al-Habbas also expressed concern over the maritime security, saying “the maritime security is very important because of India’s growing commercial ties with the Gulf, given that most deliveries are carried out through sea routes.”
Another speaker Arun Patankar stressed the need for an India-GCC FTA, saying that the investment protection agreement and the avoidance of double taxation agreement provide institutional framework to encourage bilateral investments.
Patankar called for strengthening cooperation between private sectors. He proposed holding of “Saudi-Indian Project Conclave” and forming an “Eminent Personalities Group on Industry and Innovation.” On strategic and commercial fronts, speakers like Dr. Mohammed F. Al-Qahtani, assistant professor of economics at the Institute of Diplomatic Studies, Dr. Mohammed Al-Quizani, director of cultural relations at the Ministry of Higher Education and Dr. Mohammed Al-Abdullatif of King Saud University were of the same opinion.
The Saudi participants said that India should reassure Saudi Arabia that it values its strategic cooperation with the Kingdom and wants to promote it.
On the educational front, Indian government agencies have made plans to visit prominent Saudi universities and make presentations on opportunities available in India. In fact, the Educational Consultants India Ltd., has already been authorized by the Indian government to act as a “Single Window Coordinating Agency” for the placement of Saudi students.
“Saudi students must be encouraged to avail themselves of the educational opportunities in India,” said Shahare, while referring to the huge educational infrastructure in that country.
The participants also suggested that there should be an exchange of scholarships and seats, as well as exchange of books, publications, periodicals, documents, computer programs, films and sources related to higher education and scientific research. The two countries should also provide each other access to historical manuscripts and documents in their possession, which can shed new light on different aspects of Indo-Arab relations.
