On the joyous occasion of the 75th Independence Day of India, I extend my best wishes to all my fellow Indians in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, particularly those residing in the Western region of the Kingdom. India is completing 74 years of its Independence, and we are just one step away from the diamond jubilee next year. Celebrations of Independence Day have already started in India under the banner of 'Azadi Ka Amrut Mahotsav'. Consulate General of India, Jeddah has been organizing several activities covering diverse themes- culture, business, sports, Hajj, art, etc. Since we are living with limitations on physical gatherings, we have introduced several creative ideas and used online and social media platforms extensively in engaging all sections of the community. Incidentally, this Independence Day, the two strategic partners, India and Saudi Arabia are also gearing towards 75th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship in 2022. India and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial and friendly relations reflecting the centuries old economic and socio-cultural ties. India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi shares an extraordinarily warm relationship with the King and Crown Prince. Following the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2019, the bilateral relationship has only seen an upward trajectory as reflected in countless cases of seamless cooperation, including India's support for Saudi Arabia's Presidency of the G20 and joining hands as the world fights against COVID. Consulate General of India, Jeddah accords highest priority to being at the service of the Indian community and ensuring their welfare. Amidst the unprecedented challenge of COVID pandemic, the Consulate has seized the opportunity to enhance our digital outreach to the community. The Consulate has launched a mobile app called "India In Jeddah" available both on iOS and Android platforms to provide easy access of various services. One of the remarkable features is "Digital Meeting service" which allows Indians in need of services to schedule meetings with the officials from the Consulate to address their issues. This has enabled them saving a lot of time, money and efforts as they do not require to ravel from various parts of the Kingdom. Simultaneously, the Consulate has stepped up its efforts to provide consular services at the doorstep of the Indians living in places far from Jeddah with the concept of "Consulate on wheels" by conducting frequent consular and community tours to different areas in the Western Region. I am pleased to say that 2 VFS centers have been opened, one in Makkah and another in Jazan, which would deeply benefit our community residing in these provinces. More such centers are planned in the future. All these would not have been possible without the constant support and collaboration extended by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. I thank the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman and government of Saudi Arabia for the warm hospitality extended to the Indians living in the Kingdom as well as supporting to us in delivering consular and welfare services to the Indians in the Kingdom. I also take this opportunity to congratulate Saudi Arabia for its excellent initiatives to control COVID-19 and for conducting Hajj in a very seamless manner. While thousands of Indians eagerly await for an opportunity to perform Haj in 2022, India always stands with the efforts of the Kingdom in the best interests of pilgrims and others. I thank the Indian community for their hard work as well as friendly and law-abiding nature which have contributed to the strengthening of the friendship between their motherland India and their second home Saudi Arabia. I wish good health and peace to the Indian community and to the good and friendly people of Saudi Arabia. (Mohd. Shahid Alam)
