A multi-sector catalogue exhibition was jointly organized by the Embassy of India and the Arar Chamber of Commerce and Industry last week. The exhibition showcased catalogues, CDs and other publicity material from Indian companies from various sectors such as air-conditioning, animal and poultry, agriculture and food, automotive, chemicals & fertilizers, coir products, cosmetics, electrical, electronics, engineering goods, fasteners, fire and safety, gift items, home appliances, hospitality, construction, construction equipment, turnkey projects, IT & telecommunication, medical and pharmaceuticals, leather goods, machinery and equipment, metal and metal products, packaging, plastic, sanitary wares, public address system, textiles & garments, water & waste management, wood & furniture etc. Representatives from the Saudi business community attended the catalogue exhibition, a press release issued by the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said Monday. Indian investment in Saudi Arabia is $1097.06 million to set up 108 service and 82 industrial projects. Saudi investment in India till date is $228.83 million to set up 49 Indo-Saudi joint ventures in India. It was a unique economic and commercial activity undertaken by the Indian embassy in Arar Province for the first time. It is the endeavor of the Indian embassy to reach out as widely in the Kingdom as possible to disseminate information on business and commercial opportunities available in both countries, the press release said. Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Bin Musaad Al-Saud, Governor of Arar Province received Rajeev Shahare, Charge d'affaires at the Indian embassy. They discussed bilateral ties and means to further strengthen the historical and brotherly ties between the two countries. A similar catalogue exhibition will be held at Hail Chamber of Commerce and Industry on June 8. Trade relations between India and Saudi Arabia go back over several centuries. Today, India is 5th largest trading partner for Saudi Arabia. The bilateral trade during 2006-07 was $15.97 billion (including oil). Saudi Arabia is the 12th largest market in the world for Indian exports and is destination of more than 2.05 percent of India's global exports. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia is the source of 7.21 percent of India's global imports (excluding oil). For Saudi Arabia, India is the 5th largest market for its exports, accounting for 6 percent of its global exports. In terms of imports by Saudi Arabia, India ranks 9th and is source of around 3.77 percent of Saudi Arabia's total imports. __
