RIYADH: Members of the Indian business community in Riyadh joined the country-wide celebrations to welcome King Abdullah's safe return to the Kingdom by cutting a cake at a local restaurant here Friday. Indian businessmen and investors, who have received licenses from the Saudi Arabia General Investment Authority (SAGIA) to operate in sectors such as construction, education, industry and health, established the India Business Forum (IBF) in 2007. Owais Ahmad, president of the Forum, said that IBF members in their general meeting acknowledged King Abdullah's remarkable contributions to the economic development of Saudi Arabia. “We decided to celebrate King Abdullah's homecoming by cutting a cake decorated with best wishes and to express our appreciation for the monarch's wise policies that have created a conducive business environment for foreign investors in the country,” said Ahmad. He said King Abdullah has been instrumental in boosting bilateral relations with India. King Abdullah made a landmark visit to India in January, 2006 and was the guest of honor at India's Republic Day celebrations. “I consider myself to be in my second homeland,” King Abdullah said upon his arrival in New Delhi. “The relationship between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an historic one, we have been old friends and, God willing, this visit will renew these historic ties,” he added. The IBF president has called on Indian businessmen in Saudi Arabia to come together under one umbrella to work on a common objective which is the economic development of the Kingdom. The greater participation will allow the growth of businesses in Saudi Arabia among both Indian businessmen and their Saudi counterparts, he said. “To facilitate this idea, IBF is preparing a directory of all Indian businessmen and business establishments in Saudi Arabia under the title of ‘India Business Directory, Saudi Arabia',” he said. The directory will be launched at a planned ceremony that will witness the participation of businessmen from India and Indian institutions such as the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Confederation of Indian Industries(CII) and many others.
