Members of the Indian community are proud to see their country's tricolor along with the Saudi national flag fluttering in the breeze on lampposts here, as part of preparations for the historic three-day visit of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh that starts Feb. 27. Singh arrives in Riyadh as head of a powerful delegation that includes S.M. Krishna, External Affairs Minister; Anand Sharma, Commerce and Industry Minister; Murli Deora, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas; Shiv Shankar Menon, National Security Adviser; T.K.A. Nair, Principal Secretary to the PM and other senior officials. All streets starting from King Khaled International Airport to where the Indian PM will stay in Riyadh have been bedecked with Saudi and Indian flags. The high-level preparations taking place to welcome Singh are a morale boost for the large Indian community living in the Kingdom. Mohammed Mazharuddin, an Indian sales executive, said that during his 15-year stay in Riyadh he has witnessed flags mounted on lampposts before the arrival of the heads of state of various countries. “But seeing the Indian tricolor on Riyadh streets instills a sense of national pride and is an indication of the strong relations between India and Saudi Arabia,” he said. K. Najeebuddin, who has lived in Riyadh for the past 20 years, said his Saudi colleagues were also happy to see the Indian tricolor alongside Saudi flags. He said Singh's visit to Saudi Arabia would certainly inspire the 1.8 million Indians in the Kingdom to convey national feelings to fellow colleagues of other nationalities who are working in the Kingdom. “Indians are known for their discipline and hard work and high-level visits. Singh's visit will further inculcate national pride and motivate Indians to do more for their country while staying in Saudi Arabia,” he said. Singh will hold talks with King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, on a number of bilateral and regional matters of mutual concern that include political, economic and cultural issues. Saudi Arabia and India are expected to sign four bilateral agreements during Singh's visit. India and Saudi Arabia have also engaged in negotiations to set up an infrastructure fund valued at $680 million for investments in India. The parties involved in negotiations are the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) and the Indian Development Finance Corporation (IDFC). However, it is not clear whether or not documents establishing the fund will be signed during Singh's visit.
