Indian Embassy in Saudi To Celebrate 75 Years of Indo-Saudi Bilateral Relations as India Turns 75!

Report by Jaleel Ansari, Al Jubail | Saudi Arabia

The Embassy of India in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is gearing up to celebrate India’s 75th Independence Day in a special way. This August 15th also marks the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations between India and Saudi Arabia. Speaking during a community meet at the International Indian School, Al Jubail on Monday evening, the Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia Dr. Ausaf Sayeed said “On 15th Aug 2021 Indian Embassy will be celebrating Azadi Ka Mahautsav. ”

He said “the Embassy is taking up several initiatives taken to mark the special occasion. One such initiative is to launch Indian Education Forum, which will facilitate students, parents, academicians and educationists to work under Indian Embassy’s supervision to not only facilitate higher education of Indian students in the kingdom, but also to provide greater ease and access to Indian education system within the Kingdom.

The 1989-batch IFS officer assured that “the Embassy is working to set up a NEET UG 2021 examination center in Saudi Arabia to cater the academic needs of Indian students” there.  “The process has been initiated and is under review by the Indian Ministry of Education”, he said.

In response to a question on opportunities for higher education for Indian students after their 12th grade, the Ambassador said about 400 students can avail sponsorship programs at the Saudi Universities. However, due to lack of awareness among the Indian diaspora, the enrollment rate is less. The embassy has taken steps to create awareness and promote education of the highest standards for Indians residing in the Kingdom, he added.

Saudi Arabia is welcoming the Indian universities to start their campuses in the kingdom.  At present the dialogues are going on between IIT Delhi and Saudi Authorities”, he said.

Dr Sayeed also assured that the Embassy is trying to bring back Indians who were stranded in the country after the lockdown to Saudi Arabia. We have received “positive response from competent authorities”, he said while adding that through the Vande Bharat Mission flights, the Embassy has helped over 6 lakh Indians to return to their home country during the covid-19 lockdown.

He also clarified that Indian vaccination certificates are not required to be attested fro India for registering with the Tawakkalna app, the saudi government’s mobile app to track Covid-19 infections in real time and control its spread.

The Ambassador invited social activists and entrepreneurs to come forward and support the parents who are unable to pay their wards school tuition fee due to financial constraints.He also offered to help the Indian business community registered with the Ministry of Investment (previsouly known as Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority or SAGIA).

Deputy Chief of Mission Mr N Ram Prasad, Secretary for Economic and Commerce Mr Asim Anwar, and Second Secretary for Political and Information Mrs Ritu Yadav, along with noted Indian diaspora including IISJ Principal DR. Naushad Ali, Vision Trust NRI Forum President Mr. Jaleel Ansari, Waheed Lateef, Anis Bakhsh, Deepak Paralikarr,  Miraj Ansari, Rahan Alam and Asif Shaikh were also present on this occasion.