The Secretary General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Dr. Abdullah Bin Salem Al-Badri welcomed in a statement the hosting the third OPEC summit by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and termed it as a positive step for the organization. He also highlighted the significance of holding the summit in Saudi Arabia, which emanates not only from the fact that the Kingdom is the largest oil exporter in the Organization, but also as one of the founders of this Organization. In an interview carried today by Summit's "news release" issued by its Organizing Committee, DR Al-Badri said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is playing a major role in OPEC and has always supported its resolutions and steps, noting that it is the first time for the OPEC to hold its summit in the Middle East. "The world is still looking forward to OPEC on the eve of the upcoming summit to provide its needs of oil and assist in achieving sustainable development, especially in developing countries," he added.
