While inaugurating the “Catalog Show of Indian Companies” in Taif, Kidwai disclosed that hundreds of Indian companies have invested in Saudi Arabia and signed joint ventures.
The Consulate General of India in Jeddah, in cooperation with Taif Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TCCI), organized a two-day event on the Taif chamber’s premises.
Naif Abdullah Al-Adwani, chairman of the TCCI, and Kidwai on Sunday jointly opened the catalog show.
The Taif chamber’s chairman applauded the excellent relations between Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and India.
The consul general highlighted the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque King Abdullah to India in 2006, which opened a new chapter in the Indo-Saudi bilateral relations and set the tone for increased economic cooperation between the two sides.
He said these relations got further impetus following the visit of Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh to the Kingdom in 2010.
During the financial year 2009-10, trade between India and Saudi Arabia reached $21 billion. India is the fifth-largest market for Saudi exports while Saudi Arabia is the third largest market in the world for Indian exports.
The consul general thanked the TCCI for setting up an “India Corner” in their information center exclusively to display information about Indian companies.
The Consulate General of India has clarified that the extension of the royal amnesty announced by the Kingdom is applicable only to those who have overstayed their visit or pilgrimage visas.
Indian nationals who fall under the above categories should approach the Deportation Center (Tarheel) directly with their passports and air tickets to get the exit visa stamped on their travel documents after a fingerprint scan.
All Indian overstayers from any of the above category are requested to avail the amnesty before Sept. 14. Overstayers caught after the amnesty period face punitive action.
