The US embassy in Riyadh has granted English language scholarships to 14 students from Qassim. The students will be studying six levels of English in the one-year program titled “English.” At the Qassim Movenpick Hotel in Buraidah, US Ambassador Ford Freker handed over the scholarship certificates to the winning students. The 12 senior high school and two high school students were selected from among 50 contestants from Qassim. At the meeting, which brought together the US Ambassador, the students and their parents, Freker said his visit to the area aims at bolstering friendly relations between the Kingdom and the United States. The US Ambassador and the accompanying delegation also visited Qassim University where a number of issues of mutual interest were discussed. Freker stressed that Saudi Arabia is open to foreign investment and offers numerous economic benefits. He called on large and medium size US companies to invest in Saudi Arabia and to make use of the available investment opportunities. At a meeting organized by Qassim's Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Monday, Freker said that Buraidah has become an investment attraction city which is growing at an accelerated pace and features integrated services. Freker added that there are more than 300 US projects in the Kingdom with a total capital of $12 billion: “Mega US projects in Saudi Arabia will soon be announced”, he told Arabic daily Al-Watan. Freker also called for an exchange of visits among US and Saudi businessmen to boost mutual cooperation. He said this would be the way to correct misconceptions acquired by a number of US citizens about the Saudi people. On the difficulties encountered by Saudis who wish to go to the USA for study or tourism purposes, Freker said that the US Embassy is working hard on overcoming these difficulties. He said the visa problem should be resolved soon. “We are seeking to extend the period of validity of the visas to solve some of the problems faced by Saudi students upon returning to the Kingdom for annual leave”, he said. Freker added that the US Consulate in Dhahran will soon begin to issue visas to students, businessmen and tourists to solve the problem of delay in obtaining visas. He also indicated that the US is intent on solving many of the problems faced by Saudis, including some at airports, through an integrated vision to set mutual dealings between the two countries straight: “President Bush discussed these problems during his latest visit to the Kingdom and he promised us to resolve all issues”, he said. Freker added that the imminent visit of the US National Security Secretary to the Kingdom is the first and should resolve visa problems and treatment by airport security personnel which have antagonized many Saudis: “I promise you that things will return to normal”, he said. Freker said that 15,000 Saudi students are currently studying in the US and said that the aim is to increase the number to 30,000 over the next three years. __
