Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected in Saudi Arabia for a two-day official visit on April 19, the Embassy of India said on Wednesday. Rajeev Shahare, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy, announced the visit at a press conference. During his visit, Mukherjee is scheduled to meet Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Prince Salman, the Emir of Riyadh. Shahare said Mukherjee's visit is a continuation of high-level contacts aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and India. The two sides will focus in issues of common interest on bilateral, regional and international arenas, including political, economic, commerce aspects of strategic importance to both countries, and on issues pertaining to Indian workers in Saudi Arabia. Indian officials, including the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Special Envoy of the Prime Minister for West Asia and the Middle East peace process, will accompany Mukherjee. “The inclusion of Indian Prime Minister's Special Envoy for the Middle East peace process in the forthcoming delegation reflects India's long-standing position and unwavering support of the Palestinian cause,” said Shahare. “Saudi Arabia and India have historic and time-tested relations, which were further strengthened when King Abdullah was the guest of honor in India's Republic Day celebration in 2006,” he said. The bilateral trade volume between the two countries stood at $15.97 billion, with the trade balance largely in favor of Saudi Arabia, added Shahare. “India buys around $11 billion in crude oil from Saudi Arabia, constituting around 26 percent of India's requirements,” he said. Shahare said both countries are inviting investments into each other, adding that some 160 Indian companies are now operating in various fields and have invested around $1 billion in Saudi Arabia. “The Saudis have some $250 million of investments in India, mostly in information technology,” he said. “It would be interesting to know that one of the Saudi companies has been engaged in the development of software solutions for a bank in Hyderabad, the capital of the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh,” he said. He added that during the talks, Mukherjee will also discuss a visit of the Indian Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia. Minister Mukherjee will also lay the foundation stone of the Delhi Public School (DPS) in Riyadh. A meeting with Indian community leaders is also scheduled, he said. __
