The nearly three million Indian expatriates living in the Kingdom are playing a key role in the country’s development, a senior Saudi official said on Sunday.

Mohammed bin Ahmed Tayyeb, the director of the Foreign Ministry in Makkah, said the two countries also have strong trade ties going back many years and underscored the mutual visits of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

Tayyeb made the remarks at a function in Jeddah on the eve of the Indian Republic Day celebrations, attended by senior diplomats from around the world, prominent Saudi businessmen, and Indian expatriates.

Tayyeb revealed that he would write a book about his experiences with India after he retires. He also hailed India as the world’s largest democracy.

Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai said that the consulate in Jeddah issued 15,000 visas to Saudis last year.

He said trade between the two countries stood at $43.78 billion. In addition, Tata Motors has set up a Jaguar manufacturing plant in the Kingdom, and the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation has opened a $100-million state-of-the-art research and training center in Bangalore.

He thanked Tayyeb for helping 1.4 million Indians rectify their status during the recent grace period. Indians formed one of the world’s largest Haj contingents every year, he said.

The Indian International School girl’s section students presented a colorful and synchronized cultural show at the event. Tayyeb and Kidwai cut a ceremonial cake with other consuls general at the event.