Following the visit of Indian Prime Minister H. E. Dr. Manmohan Singh to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the month of February 2010 and signing the Riyadh Declaration with the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud which has upgraded the relations to Strategic Partnership, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in association with the Saudi Journalist Association invited Indian women delegation to visit Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 8th-14th October 2010.

During their stay, the Indian delegation will be visiting Prince Noura University (All Women University) Ladies Branc of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce, Human Right Association of Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan University, and King Abdulaziz National Dialogue Center. Delegation will also be meeting the Saudi Vice Minister of Education Her Excellency Mrs. Noura Al Faiz. The Saudi journalist Association has also arranged a welcome & interactive session with the delegation.

The delegation is drawn from eminent Indian ladies from all walks of like so that they can draw their perception of the Kingdom from their respective point of view based on their areas of specialization. The member of Indian delegation includes: Nilofar Suhrawardy (Journalist & Writer), Louise Khurshid (Active Politician & Media Personality), Babli Moitra (Principal, Indraprashta College, Delhi University), Madhu Kishwar (Academic and Human Rights Activist), Madhu Rao Ayde (Textile Designer with a Business Concern-Sampada) and Rashmi Taneja (Plastic Surgeon).

The relations between Saudi Arabia and India which can be traced to hundred years back in history had recently received a huge impetus with the twin visits of the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in January 2006 (H. M. the King was here as the Chief Guest of India's Republic Day celebration) followed by the Indian Prime Minister H. E. Dr. Manmohan Singh visit to Riyadh to February 2010. Both visits culminated in the signing of "Delhi Declaration" and the "Riyadh Declaration" respectively and they have Paved the way for a composite and all embracive relations between the two countries.

Trade between Saudi Arabia & India have increased from $ 300 million in 2000 to $ 28 billion in 2009 and the last few years have witnessed a sharp rise in B2B exchanges, visit by eminent dignitaries and bilateral collaboration in different areas.

It is hoped that this delegation's visit shall set the stage for more people to people contact between the two countries and take bilateral relation to a new height.

Faisal Hassan Trad
Ambassador
Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary