The initiatives launched in the recent past have produced particularly positive outcomes in 2007: the relevance of the visits to Riyadh by H.E. the Minister of Foreign Affairs Massimo D’Alema, in January, and by H.E. the Prime Minister Romano Prodi, in April, was successfully recognised on the Saudi side, as shown by the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, to Rome last November. Within this context, the seeds sown during the work of previous months were reaped with the signature of five documents in strategically important sectors: defence, fight against organized crime, university cooperation, technical and professional training, health. As in January 2007 was signed the Agreement for Avoiding Double taxation, the year ended with the signature of six memoranda. In the months to come, such memoranda will be implemented by delegations’ mutual visits which will put them into action. Analogous anticipation and hope concerns the domain of university cooperation. It is sincerely hoped that, by hosting the Saudi students benefiting from the “King Abdullah Scholarship” in Italian universities, such co-operation will be taken further. Likewise, the same efforts have been directed for the development of cooperation in the training sector, implemented by offering courses aimed at meeting the actual needs of Saudi technicians, and that will hopefully assume high importance.  In the various sections of our web-site, visitors can find ample information on various activities: commercial exchange statistics, data on the forthcoming political elections, and latest news in a wide range of fields.

As we confirm our commitment to provide a frequently updated context of the Embassy’s life and the activity of Italian businesses operating in Saudi Arabia, we extend cordial greetings to our nationals as well as our Saudi friends who visit our country in growing number, participate in the Embassy’s activities, and who maintain cooperation ties with the Italian companies and Italian businessmen.

Eugenio d’Auria

Riyadh, March 2008.

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