Happy Saudi National Day!On behalf of India and the Indian community living in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, I extend warm greetings to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, and the people of Saudi Arabia on the occasion of 96th National Day on September 23. Today, Saudi Arabia is not only seen as a large energy producer but also a nation making rapid progress on developing its economy, human resource, technology, environment sustainability and cultural bridges. The last decade has been truly transformative for Saudi Arabia. Since the launch of Vision 2030 under the leadership of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, the Kingdom has made significant progress in diversifying beyond oil, expanding tourism, technology, culture and entertainment, while creating greater opportunities for its young population. The rising non-oil growth and major investments in infrastructure and new industries has positioned Saudi Arabia as a more diversified, dynamic and globally connected economy.The transformation achieved by Saudi Arabia is also reflected in the expansion of India’s relationship with the Kingdom. The Strategic Partnership Council Agreement signed by both countries in 2019 has led to strengthening of our bilateral ties in diverse areas. Saudi Arabia remains one of the topmost energy partners of India with substantial crude oil exports even during the current regional conflict. It has also been a very reliable suppliers of fertilizers to India. Our total bilateral trade stands in excess of USD 40 billion annually, with each country in being in top 5 trading partners of the other.With both countries having growing economies, ambitious projects and young populations, I have no doubt that business exchanges will continue to enhance in coming years. These would encompass new and emerging areas such as startups, logistics, data centres, AI, fintech and semiconductors as well strategic sectors such as space and defence equipment. Connectivity, whether it be physical, digital or between electricity grids would also be an important feature of our partnership. It has only been a month for me to join as Ambassador of India to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Even in this short period I have seen the immense energy, warmth and openness of the people of Saudi Arabia. I am sure that such dynamism will continue to provide momentum to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to continue its march towards meeting its goals under Vision 2030 and beyond. India and Indian community in Saudi Arabia will always stand as a worthy partner with the leadership and people of the Kingdom. Happy Saudi National Day!
