Saudi ambassador to India Salih al-Ghamidi has highlighted the importance of the visit of the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz to India, and said it comes as a culmination for the sincere efforts exerted by the Saudi and Indian leaderships to further cement bilateral relations.


In a statement to SPA, al-Ghamidi said the visit of King Abdullah is the first of its kind since the visit of Late King Saud bin Abdulaziz to India in 1955.


He noted that King Abdullah will be the major guest of the Indian national day this year.

'Realizing the Kingdom's important political and economic weight at the regional and international arenas, the Indians do attach a great importance to the visit', said the ambassador adding that 'on the fringes of the visit an exhibition on the Saudi industries will be organized, and a number of agreements will be signed in various domains'.

The ambassador said India is one of the most important ten countries that establish commercial relations with the Kingdom.


He noted that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries amounted in 2005 to SR 37 billion.


The value of the Kingdom exports to India amounted to SR 30800 million, while the Kingdom's imports from India amounted to SR6200 million, he added.


The ambassador said the Saudi-Indian joint commission for economic, commercial, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation was established in 1981 for further developing commercial and economic relations between the two countries.