India and Saudi Arabia are working together to create an “investment bridge” aimed at expediting pending bilateral investment projects and making it easier for investors to participate. The deliberations towards this objective occurred in Riyadh, where Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Secretary in charge of the Gulf in the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, met with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for International Partnerships, Mohammad Al Hassnah.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs reports that the two sides discussed opportunities for bilateral investment exchanges. The officials also reviewed the progress made under the Committee on Economy and Investment of the SPC, and agreed to make further progress on priority opportunities. The meeting also included a courtesy call by Dr. Sayeed to thank the Saudi Arabian Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al Rabiah, for reinstating India’s Haj quota after COVID-19 pandemic-induced reductions. The Haj quota for the Haj Committee of India under a bilateral Agreement with Saudi Arabia for this year is 175,025 pilgrims.