Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has called for intensifying efforts to boost political, commercial and cultural relations with Saudi Arabia. The call was made during a recent meeting with Saudi businessmen at the Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) following his talks with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin Abdul-Aziz, Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz, the Deputy Premier and Commander of the National Guard and a host of Saudi officials. Aliyev said that "Baku is looking to Saudi Arabia to support its regional interests politically and commercially". The Azeri leader witnessed the signing of an investment protection agreement prior to his meeting at RCCI. Another agreement for SR67.5 million credit line facility granted by Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) to Azerbaijan was also signed in the presence of the president. On behalf of Saudi Arabia, the accords were inked by Finance Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf. Later, Aliyev participated in the RCCI meeting, which was also attended by Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr. Hashim Abdullah Yamani. IDB has agreed to grant $10.4 million credit facility for a road construction project and another $10.1 million credit for a tunnel project in that former Soviet republic. --MORE 1046 Local Time 0746 GMT
