On the occasion of 60th Republic day of India, let me offer my warm greetings to fellow Indians, Persons of Indian Origin and all our friends in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
At the outset, on behalf of the government of India, let me congratulate all the Saudi agencies for their excellent Haj management, which resulted in a smooth and safe Haj 2008 (1429 H). The government of Saudi Arabia provided the best possible facilities to the guests of God. This Haj has also been one of the smoothest Haj for the Indian side. We take this opportunity to thank various Saudi agencies for extending their complete cooperation and support to the Indian Haj Mission.
The historic visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to India brought a perceptible upgradation in the bilateral relations in field of political, economic and people to people interactions. The exchange of a series of high-level visits between the two countries is expected to further boost our bilateral ties. There has been a healthy growth in India’s bilateral trade with the Kingdom, which now exceeds $23 billion. India’s exports to the Kingdom registered an impressive growth of over 43 percent last year.
There is increasing recognition of India’s growing importance in global affairs. The economic reforms that were initiated in 1991 and the various pro-active steps that have been undertaken in various other sectors have created the right ambience for India. Today, we can see a new found exuberance among Indians living in India and abroad. However as our Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has repeatedly emphasized that growth is only one part of the story and that the picture will only be complete when development accompanies growth. India is committed to this policy and had initiated a series of social and economic measures that would contribute toward greater inclusiveness.
The recent terrorist attacks in Mumbai were a grim reminder of the grave threat posed by extremism and terrorism to our pluralistic and liberal traditions. But India has shown, over and over again, that it will not allow the forces of terrorism and extremism to destabilize its polity, economy and society. India has taken several measures to strengthen national security, to promote national cohesion and will continue to work with the international community to ensure that there are no safe havens and launching pads for terrorists.
The Indian expat community in the Kingdom has played a pivotal role in enhancing the image of our country. I take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt greetings and best wishes to all the Indian expatriates. I also take this opportunity to acknowledge their contribution and to look forward to such positive initiatives from different sections of the Indian community for the general good of all.
The Consulate General of India, Jeddah, remains committed to extend its best possible services to the Indian diaspora in the Western province of Saudi Arabia. The well-being of the Indian community remains our top priority.
Jai Hind.
Sayeed Ahmed Baba
Consul General of India
