The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Ireland today signed the minutes of the 8th meeting of their joint committee for economic and technical cooperation. In the attendance of Prince Turki bin Nawaf, the attache at the Saudi embassy in Dublin, Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al-Darees, Saudi ambassador to Ireland, Dr. Nail Holon, Irish ambassador to the Kingdom and members of the committee from the two sides, Dr. Yousef bin Tirad Al-Saadoon, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Economic and Cultural Affairs, signed for Saudi Arabia while Clare Dan, Assistant Minister of International Trade and Competitiveness at the Ministry of Projects, Trade and Innovation, signed for her country. Addressing the meeting, Clare said she was impressed by the progress of the Kingdom in different fields, including development and investment in the infrastructure and housing fields as well as the aspirations of the Saudi leadership to build economic cities and universities and the openness of the Kingdom towards scientific and technological advancement. In a statement to the Saudi press Agency, she expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the meetings. She was also satisfied over the results of her recent visit to Saudi Arabia, noting the progress of the Kingdom in the field of economic cities and new specialized universities. For his part, Dr. Al-Saadoon expressed satisfaction over the outcome of the 8th session of the committee. He said the committee focused on higher education, including universities and cooperation between the two countries in this field; health and medicine; agriculture and food and science and technology. He highlighted the impact of the field visits arranged by the Irish side for the Saudi side of the committee. He said an agreement on civil aviation was discussed between the two countries, including the introduction of an air route between the two countries. He added that the broad lines for a memorandum of understanding between the two countries in the field of higher education was reached. Another MOU on cooperation in the field of health is ready for signing, he said, adding that the two sides are hopeful that the private sector representatives in the two countries could soon reach a bilateral agreement on economic, commercial and investment aspects. This includes the establishment of a joint business council, he concluded.
