RIYADH: The INDIA CATEX-2008, held at the premises of Asharqia Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Dammam during the weekend drew a huge crowd from the local business community and expatriate businessmen who were interested in promoting business with India.
The show organized by the Indian Embassy was held in collaboration with the Asharqia Chamber. The exhibition showcased catalogues, CDs and other publicity materials from Indian companies from various sectors such as air conditioning, animal and poultry, agriculture and food, automotive, chemicals and Fertilizers, Coil Products, Cosmetics, electrical, electronics, engineering goods, fasteners, fire and SAFETY, GIFT items, home appliances, hospitality, construction, construction equipment, turn-key projects, IT and telecommunication, medical and pharmaceuticals, leather goods, machinery and equipment, metal and metal products, packaging, plastic, sanitary wares, public address system, textiles and garments, water and waste management, wood and furniture.
India is the fifth largest trading partner of Saudi Arabia. The bilateral trade during the 2007-08 was $16.5 billion.
Saudi Arabia is the 12th largest market in the world for Indian exports and is the destination of more than 2.05 percent of India’s global export. It is also the source of 7.21 percent of India’s global imports (excluding oil) and 6 percent of its global exports. In terms of imports by Saudi Arabia, India ranks ninth and is the source of around 3.77 percent of the Kingdom’s total imports.
The major items exported by India are cathodes and sections of Cathodes of refined copper, Benzene, floating docks, basmati/non-basmati rice, pipeline for oil and gas, meat and meat products, compressors used in refrigerating equipment, tea, manmade yarn, fabrics, made-ups, cotton yarn, primary and semi-finished iron and steel, chemicals, plastic and linoleum products, machinery and instruments, edible fruits and nuts, etc.
Major items imported by India, apart from crude oil and petroleum products, include organic chemicals, inorganic chemicals, plastic materials, suplhur, pulp and waste paper, iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, fertilizers, finished and semi-finished leather, copper and Aluminum.
Indian investment in Saudi Arabia is $1.10 billion to set up 108 service and 82 industrial projects. Saudi investment in India is around $228.83 million to set up 49 Indo-Saudi joint ventures in India.
