DAMMAM – An Indian catalog exhibition organized at Asharqia Chamber (Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and Industry) recently drew huge crowd and invoked interest among the business circle in the Eastern Province. Abdulrahman S. Al Otaishan, Chairman of Asharqia Chamber, inaugurated the show in which catalogs of more than 200 companies of diversified businesses were showcased. Hemant H. Kotalwar, Charge d'Affaires at Indian Embassy, Riyadh, was present on the occasion. Also present were Abdulrahman A. Al Wabel, Secretary General of Asharqia Chamber. Kotalwar focused on “Make in India” initiative undertaken by the Indian government to encourage foreign companies to manufacture their products in India. The major objective behind the initiative is to open 25 economic sectors including automobiles, chemicals, IT, pharmaceuticals, textiles, ports, aviation, leather, tourism and hospitality, railways, manufacturing, mining, bio-technology, electronics and renewable energy. Solar energy is a sector in which there is potential of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and India, Kotalwar said, adding that India has now concentrated on the development of solar energy since its other energy resources are relatively scarce. In July 2009, India unveiled a $19 billion plan to produce 20 GW of solar power by 2020. In January 2015, the Indian government significantly expanded its solar plans, targeting $100 billion of investment and 100 GW of solar capacity by 2022, according to a source. Indian firms already have strong presence in the Saudi market with a combined investment estimated at $1.6 billion mainly in the fields of energy, IT and manufacturing industries. Saudi Arabia has also significant investments in India estimated at $228 million. Saudi Aramco and SABIC have plans for more investments in India. SABIC recently opened a technology center in Bangalore at a cost of $150 million. Indian catalog exhibition represented a wide range of products and services in a variety of sectors like construction, building materials, textiles, engineering, information technology, water treatment, medical equipment, foodstuffs, safety, education and training. — SG
