India-Saudi ties will reach new heights

Gunfoundry: The newly-appointed Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr Ausaf Sayeed, has assured to assist the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia in resolving their problems. Sayeed said that his former association with Saudi Arabia in different capacities will make things easy.

A felicitation ceremony was organized by Media Plus at Media Plus Auditorium on Sunday evening, for the IFS officer who served in different capacities in Saudi Arabia from 1995. Speaking on the occasion, Sayeed said that India and Saudi Arabia would strengthen their bilateral relations on different fronts, and that the association between the two countries would reach newer heights.

He expressed delight on his appointment as the Ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Referring to the recent state visit of Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Sayeed said that the $100 billion investment in India would open new chapters in India Saudi relations, strengthen diplomatic ties and provide employment opportunities to thousands.

While referring to the centuries-old relationship between the two nations, he recalled that the Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan of Hyderabad provided financial assistance for the completion of railways project in Hijaz, Saudi Arabia. Also reminded the visit of King Saud of Saudi Arabia to Hyderabad, and the way Nizam welcomed the Saudi King. "The Nizam of Hyderabad supplied the power generators to the holy mosques in Saudi Arabia and also built Rubaat – an accommodation for the Haj pilgrims," he recounted.

The ambassador also appreciated Telangana State for its tremendous growth at 14 percent and said he has chosen Telangana as his state of choice for the additional duty of counselling allotted to IFS cadre.

The scion of Asif Jahi dynasty Prince Muffakham Jah Bahadur felicitated Ausaf Sayeed and congratulated him. The prince, grandson of the Nizam VII, also presented a memento during the felicitation programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Minority Affairs Advisor to Government of Telangana AK Khan said that in view of the historic relations between Hyderabad and Saudi Arabia, a consulate can be set up in Saudi Arabia as it would benefit the NRIs in TS and also to promote business. He said that the state government has already proposed the Saudi Government to set up a consulate in Hyderabad as it would also benefit trade. On this, Ausaf Sayeed assured to take up the proposal soon.

Khan also called upon the ambassador to provide financial assistance from the Islamic Development Bank to the 204 schools under TMREIS where 90,000 students are pursuing their education, as the government was spending Rs 90,000 on each student annually to provide them with free residential education.

Eminent businessmen, noted academicians, prominent NRIs and intellectuals, including India's first overseas citizen Iftekhar Shareef, attended the programme.

Chief Editor of Gawah Urdu Weekly Dr Syed Fazil Hussain Parvez welcomed the guests, while Dr Mohammed Shujath Ali Rashid presided over the program. Earlier, Media Plus CEO Syed Khaled Shahbaaz presented a documentary on Ausaf Sayeed and Indo-Saudi relations.