Indo-Saudi relations prospered during Saeed’s four-year term

INDIAN Consul-General Dr Ausaf Saeed is leaving the kingdom following the end of his term in Jeddah.
A significant achievement of his nearly four years term of office here was the boosting of relations between Saudi Arabia and India in business, trade and investments, and one platform to achieve that end was his pioneering role in establishing the Saudi Indian Business Network (SIBN).
Saeed, a career diplomat belonging to the 1989 batch, has served mainly in the Gulf and the Middle East, and everywhere, he has promoted cultural, people-to-people relations, trade, business, investments, helped organise seminars and conferences, and create such fora as SIBN.
He explained that the concept of SIBN came to mind not while being in the kingdom but during his posting in Qatar.
Indian Ambassador M.O.H. Farook said that bilateral trade relations were already strong, and he took the responsibility of strengthening political relations with the kingdom. “Our bilateral political relations got a boost with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz’s visit to India. Yet, we have to go a long way. We don’t have to sell India (to you), but help you see India to realise its potential. India tops in telecom, medical facilities and professionals like engineers and technicians. What we need is a perfect understanding between the two countries,” he said.
Described as a true platform for Indians, and Saudis, SIBN appropriately held a farewell reception for the outgoing consul-general at the Inter-Continental Hotel here on May 31, during the celebration of the Network’s third anniversary, and the launching of a web site by Ambassador M.A.H. Farook.
It was noted that the web site would not have been possible without the support of the consul-general, and that it will contribute to the enhancement and strengthening of the trade and traditional relations between the two countries, which is essential, especially in view of the present international situation.
As Khaled Al Maeena, Editor-in-Chief of Arab News, who was one of the speakers, put it, “We should not become victims of big powers. We should look at each other with our eyes, and not through those of others.”
Saying that “Saudi Arabia’s destiny lies East, not West,” Al Maeena added that there is a desire from both Indian and Saudi sides to benefit from each others’ capabilities, resources, and strength. “We are not just a gas station. We want to translate trade into industry, education, KBIs (knowledge-based industries), agricultural research, and finding ways to increasing food production,” he added.
Al Maeena said that SIBN was a great idea and will grow bigger. He said that he felt a sense of accomplishment to see the progress achieved by SIBN in the last three years. “People make plans and nothing comes out of that. SIBN has proved otherwise. Saudi captains of business and industry are highly capable,” said Al Maeena, whose uncles have been doing business with India for more than 100 years.
Dr Adil A. Bushnak, chairman of Bushnak Group, told Khaleej Times that India is an “extremely rewarding country with an ocean of opportunities.”
He said that SIBN and Saeed have made really commendable efforts in this area, and thus have added a new dimension to Saudi-Indian relations. “It is sad to see Consul General Saeed leave. I am sure he will continue his efforts to bolster relations between the two countries, and I hope his successor will add more to his efforts,” said Bushnak, who has a lot of projects coming up in India involving ‘substantial investments’.
Sami Fouad Bahrawi, chairman, Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) said that a Saudi businessman should seriously consider all that India has to offer. There is so much information available on the Internet and there are many organisations such as SIBN.