Prince Khalid al-Faisal, the Governor of Makkah region, will patronize here on March 23, 2008 the first international Saudi forum on ports and shipping. The participants of the 3-day forum will review the problems facing shipping and the ports. 500 experts in addition to a number of businessmen and investors from inside and outside the Kingdom will participate in the forum. On the fringes of the forum an international exhibition will be organized with the participation of the shipping companies . Dr Khalid bo-Bisheit, the president of the ports authority, said five of the Saudi eight sea ports enjoy strategic locations as regards the international navigation line, namely they are: the Islamic port of Jeddah, Yanbu commercial and industrial ports, Jazan and Dhiba ports. He pointed out that the Saudi ports are viewed as secured ports internationally. --more