JEDDAH: King Abdullah is the king to serve his people and supply their demands, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region, said Tuesday during the last session of the Jeddah Economic Forum 2011. He said that under the constitution of Saudi Arabia, it is an Arab Islamic country based on the Holy Qur'an and Sunnah. “The world and some countries are talking about wars and revolution while Saudis are discussing development after the Royal Decrees,” Prince Khaled said. “I am really proud of Saudi people.” In his speech, Prince Khaled provided information about a number of projects throughout the Kingdom. He said that the development projects of Makkah Region consider the Ka'ba as the starting point for development. “The projects should create a kind of strategic balance, which means the development projects are available in big cities and governorates as well,” he said. The airport in Qunfudah Governorate has already been approved, there will be a seaport at Al-Laith Governorate and Rabigh has already been turned into an industrial area, he said. “Projects of Technology Valley in addition to Souk Okaz in Taif will turn it into a scientific and historical city,” he added. Makkah will have the project of four direct roads to the Holy Mosque (Al-Haram) in addition to three metro stations in the ring of Makkah, he said. The strategic plan of Makkah Region will be evaluated by a special committee, he added. “Jeddah will have the most exceptional projects in the history of Saudi Arabia, which were approved by King Abdullah in only three days,” Prince Khaled said. The projects of Makkah Region also include the Makkah Awards and Makkah Youth Forum, he said. “We are going to restructure Makkah Emirate to fit with the new strategic plan,” he said. The recovered space of 280 million cubic meters of stolen lands in Jeddah, which cost about SR80 billion, will be used for governmental projects, he said. Prince Khaled also talked with young people from Jeddah and discussed many points about development in the coastal city. He pointed out that the beggary problem has increased and said most of the beggars are not Saudi. Efforts are on to address sewage problems in the city, he said. “The project of sewage water in Jeddah will be completed by the end of 2012,” he said. However, the project only includes the districts which were mentioned in the assessments of Jeddah Governorate.” Answering a question about the possibility of organizing the international book fair in Jeddah, Prince Khaled said it is organized only in the capital city, but this does not mean it is impossible to have it in Jeddah. In answering the question, he called for greater access to electronic publications. “I hope to see electronic libraries in each district, which can be reached easily,” he said. The problem of unemployment in the Kingdom and ways to overcome it were widely discussed in the session. Prince Khaled said that the government would help those who are seeking jobs, not those who are sitting in their homes and are sponsored by their families. Shaima Jastania, a Saudi female, asked about women driving in the Kingdom; Prince Khaled said it was not for him to decide and that he hopes to see Saudi women driving – along with better, safer driving.
