RIYADH: Indian Ambassador M.O.H. Farooq will leave the Kingdom on Thursday after completing his five-year tenure.
“I gained new experience in the Kingdom as a diplomat,” Farooq told Arab News on the eve of his departure.
“I was able to meet new friends and I got a golden opportunity to serve my countrymen who work in this part of the world.”
Farooq, a former chief minister in Pondicherry state, said: “I came here as a politician and now returning as a humble public servant and am really proud and happy about it.”
Speaking about his achievements, Frooq recalled that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s visit to his country was a major event during his tenure, a visit that paved the way for new areas of cooperation.
“We reached new heights in bilateral relations between the two countries and bilateral trade achieved higher targets,” Farooq said.
Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal hosted a luncheon in honor of the outgoing envoy on Monday.
Alauddin Al-Askary, chief of protocol at the ministry, presented a special memento to Farooq for his services. The Riyadh Indian International School also accorded a special reception to Farooq under the leadership of the School Chairman Imtiaz Ahmed.
The officers and staff members of the Indian Embassy gathered Wednesday in the spacious lawn of India House at the Diplomatic Quarter to bid farewell to the outgoing ambassador.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajeev Shahare, charge’d affaires of the mission, mentioned the tenure of Farooq in the Kingdom has been very successful as the multifaceted relations between India and the host country witnessed new heights.
