An Executive Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Monday, 20^th November 2006 between the Ministries of Health of Saudi Arabia and India. It was inked by the Saudi Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Bin Abdullah Al-Manea and his Indian counterpart Dr. A. Ramadoss at the latter’s office in New Delhi. The signing ceremony was also attended by the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to India Mr. Saleh Mohd. Al-Ghamdi and members of the delegation accompanying the Hon’ble Saudi Minister.

The MoU provides for bilateral cooperation between the Kingdom and India in the health sector including exchange of expertise and visits between doctors and medical personnel and training of medical staff.

During the meeting before the signing of MoU, a number of issues of mutual interest were discussed between the two sides, especially the desire of Saudi Arabia to benefit from Indian experience in the field of pharmaceuticals and medical equipments in order to pave the way for importing Kingdom’s requirements from India as Indian products are both cost-effective and of high quality.

The Hon’ble Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Al-Manea and the accompanying delegation will attend on Tuesday evening 21^st November, a reception and dinner being hosted in their honour by Ambassador Al-Ghamdi at Hotel Oberoi, New Delhi. The health Senior officials of the Indian Ministry as well as Arab Ambassadors accredited in New Delhi and several CEO’s of health sector companies in India have also attended the dinner.

The Hon’ble Indian Minister of Health organized a dinner in honour of his Saudi counterpart Dr. Hamad Al-Manea and the accompanying delegation on Monday evening (20^th November) which was also attended by Ambassador Al-Ghamdi.

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