The Netherlands Minister of Economic Affairs, Maria van der Hoeven, currently visiting Saudi Arabia, said here Tuesday that Europe seeks the continuous import of oil from the Kingdom. Addressing the Eastern Province Asharqia Chamber of Commerce and Industry here, Hoeven said Saudi Arabia was an important source of oil for her country and the rest of Europe. “Saudi Arabia is an important country for the imports of oil and gas now and in the future and thus for the supply certainty of fossil fuels in the Netherlands and in Europe,” she said. She underscored that the Netherlands is Europe's hub for trade in crude oil and the petrochemical industry and plays a crucial role in the international trade of oil. The Netherlands Minister of Economic Affairs also stressed the strengthening of bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia in four major areas of cooperation, namely, energy, oil and gas, water technology, and education. Hoeven heads a 60-member delegation, including representatives of 24 oil and gas companies and officials of 12 leading universities. She met Prince Muhammad Bin Fahd, Emir of Eastern Province, and visited Saudi Aramco and Prince Muhammad University (PMU). Hoeven will also hold discussion with the Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdullah Bin Ahmed Zenel Ali Reza, Minister of Higher Education Khalid Al Anqari, and Deputy Minister of Petroleum and Minerals Resources Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Salman. Hoeven said her country was ready to strengthen its ties in the field of education. “Saudi Arabia must invest more in the education of Saudi youth, particularly in technology related to oil and gas. The Netherlands offers its expertise in education because I know both our countries will benefit from this cooperation in education,” she said. She said the Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC) will visit the Kingdom soon to explore the possibilities of developing deeper and further relations with universities and colleges in the Kingdom. NUFFIC is interested in establishing local education branches in the Kingdom, bilateral cooperation in higher education, and cooperation in research. In the field of water technology, she said the Gulf Region Water Platform (NGWP), a cluster of Dutch water companies and institutions active in the region, is offering its expertise to the Kingdom's water sector. “The Netherlands is ready to cooperate with the Kingdom in the field of water management, including the economic use of potable water in sectors such as public health and decentralized production,” Hoeven said. Abdulrahman Rashed Al Rashed, President of Asharqia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, assured Hoeven of the cooperation of the Saudi private business sector. “The Kingdom urges the Netherlands to participate in the huge investment opportunities in Saudi Arabia – SR400 billion in oil and gas sector, SR350 billion in the allied oil and gas sector, SR350 billion in water, and SR60 billion in water and power investment,” Al-Rashed said. Al Rashed said Saudi-Netherlands bilateral trade has been expanding. Imports from the Netherlands in 2007 amounted to SR4.6 billion, while exports reached SR18.6 billion, consisting mostly of petrochemical products. Arie Kraaijeveld, leader of the Dutch delegation, expressed optimism that cooperation between the Kingdom and the Netherlands will increase. “I hope this mission will provide a stimulus to building a partnership between our countries,” Kraaijeveld said, addressing the assembly of Saudi business leaders from the Eastern Province. __
