The Saudi Arabia 2010 budget includes an unprecedented $69.3 billion for new and existing infrastructure projects in the areas of power generation, construction, and transportation, throwing huge opportunities for India. India?s business will have an opportunity to discuss these projects when a high-level business delegation led by Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Riyadh?s Emir, arives on a week long visit at the end of the week.
The five-day visit from April 11-15, of the governor is at the invitation of the vice-president Hamid Ansari. It is a follow-up after Prime minister Manmohan Singh?s visit to the Kingdom recently. The projects cover a wide spectrum including education, health, security, social and municipal services, water, sanitary drainage, roads, electronic commerce and scientific research support. The visiting governor will address industry captains at a meeting organised jointly by Ficci and Assocham. His agenda also includes calling on president Prathibha Patil and meet with the vice president. Ambassador of Saudi Arabia Faisal Trad said, ?Both countries are very serious about further developing their strategic partnership after the signing in February of the historic Riyadh Declaration.? India and Saudi Arabia decided to take their existing bilateral cooperation to a strategic partnership covering security, economic, defense and political areas.