The forum also urged executive measures to fully exploit Al-Hasa’s potential in order to draw more investments to the region. Feasibility studies must be carried out on new investment projects in Al-Hasa and market them at national, regional and international levels, the forum said.
The forum, which was opened by Eastern Province Gov. Prince Muhammad bin Fahd on Tuesday, emphasized the importance of achieving strategic economic integration with GCC countries because of Al-Hasa’s geographic vicinity.
In his keynote opening speech, Prince Muhammad called upon Saudi businessmen to invest in various lucrative projects in Al-Hasa. He said the government has allocated more than SR4 billion in this year’s budget for the region’s development.
The forum, attended by senior ministers and prominent businessmen, stressed the need to strengthen Al-Hasa’s infrastructure facilities and speed up construction of a railway linking Al-Hasa with Salwa industrial city and Oqair tourist city.
Participants also urged the development and restructuring of Al-Hasa Airport to operate regional and international flights. The General Authority of Civil Aviation is carrying out many projects to develop the Kingdom’s airports.
The forum recommended the preparation of a databank on Al-Hasa’s demography, industry, tourism and economy. Investors should also be given information about administrative procedures, financial incentives, raw materials and customs concessions, the forum said.
Participants called for establishing a new industrial city in Salwa for downstream industries and logistical services.
They backed the establishment of large-scale tourism projects in Al-Hasa by establishing a fund to finance such projects. “We should market tourist resorts in the area at national, regional and international levels in order to attract tourists from different parts of the world,” he said.
Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA), has highlighted Al-Hasa’s tourist potential. "It has everything that a tourist looks for: traditional markets, beautiful weather, excellent people and historic forts," the prince said at the opening session.
“We are in the process of streamlining procedures to make it easier for the private sector to take an active part in the building of Saudi Arabia’s tourism industry,” said Prince Sultan bin Salman, chairman of the Supreme Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA). “Now is the time to invest in this hugely important sector.”
Prince Sultan said the domestic tourism market was growing and that the government was encouraging such development, but he said that schools, colleges and universities should be promoting a culture of tourism for many people new to the idea.
Referring to human resource development, the forum said innovative solutions should be developed in order to make young Saudi men and women more productive and increase the value of gross domestic product and cut down the country’s unemployment rate.
Abdullah Al-Nashwan, secretary-general of Al-Hasa Chamber, said a number of workshops would be held to implement the forum’s recommendations with the support of the public and private sectors.
Saleh Hassan Al-Afaleq, president of the Al-Hasa Chamber, said development was booming on several fronts and noted a new economic city soon will be built in the region, giving business activity a much-needed boost.
The forum was organized by Al-Eqtisadiah newspaper in cooperation with Al-Hasa Chamber. Hundreds of businessmen, important ministers and tribal elders attended the opening session.
Among those present during the forum were Al-Hasa Gov. Prince Badr Al-Jalawi, Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdullah Zainal Alireza, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Deputy Labor Minister Abdul Wahed Al-Humaid and Agriculture Minister Fahd Balghunaim.
