Indians in Jeddah believe the current visit of Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, to their country would help boost the economies of both nations.

“The visit is likely to translate into business and other contracts, opportunities in various sectors, and increased trade cooperation,” said Mohammed Tahqique, a plant manager at Al-Shamrani Factory for Drawbar Trailers in Jeddah.

He said India is a big buyer of Saudi oil and the Kingdom can gain from his country’s expertise in technology, software and other industries. They have much to offer each other, he said.

Bilateral trade was more than $43.19 billion in 2012/2013 between the two countries, he said. There are more than 2.8 million Indian expatriates in Saudi Arabia contributing to the socio-economic development of the Kingdom.

They are also helping their own country with remittances, and investment in small and medium businesses and the real estate sector when they return home, he said.

Tahqique said he was at school when the late King Saud visited India in 1955, which had created nationwide interest. The same was happening with Prince Salman’s visit, he said. This demonstrated the warm and friendly relations between the two countries.

Usman Husain, a computer manager at Xenel, said India would gain a lot from Saudi investments in terms of job creation. He said Saudis would have access to affordable and skilled workers in India.

Shakil Zaidy who works for a contracting company in Jeddah, said that Saudi Arabia and India are moving in the right direction by strengthening bilateral relations based on mutual respect. He said Prince Salman’s visit would strengthen ties and open up new opportunities for the people of the two countries.