Saudi Embassy Open Day, Canberra 2013

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd receives Ambassador Al Saleh

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd receives Ambassador Al Saleh

Canberra, Jul 13, 2013

The Prime Minister of Australia Kevin Rudd received the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Australia Nabil bin Mohammed Al Saleh at the Lodge in Canberra, Australia. During the meeting, they exchanged cordial talks and discussed boosting the growing relations between the two countries. The Ambassador also passed on the well wishes and greetings from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin AbdulAziz, the Crown Prince, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Salman Bin AbdulAziz, the Second Deputy Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al Faisal to the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the people of Australia.

On his part, the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd passed on his thanks and well wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Saudi people. Mr Rudd also expressed his gratitude towards the growing bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Australia.

Saudi Ambassador to Australia Visits The Cultural Attache’s Office in Canberra

Welcoming the New Saudi Ambassador in Australia

Ambassador Nabil Al Saleh arrived in Canberra to take up his official duties as the New Saudi Arabia Ambassador in Australia.

He was welcomed upon arrival at the Canberra Airport by the Foreign Affairs Chief of Protocol Sally Mansfield, Deputy Ambassador Reda bin Abdul Mohsen Al-Nuzha, the Saudi cultural attaché Dr Abdul Aziz bin Talib, the Arab ambassadors in Australia and the members of the Saudi embassy and cultural attaché.

Upon his arrival, Ambassador Al Saleh said, “I would like to express my great pleasure in the confidence of the Saudi leadership in assigning  me as the ambassador to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Australia, and I’m honoured in serving my country’s interests in Australia.

I pray to the Almighty God that I fulfil the expectations of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and to do my best to serve the people of Saudi Arabia including the students on scholarships in Australian universities.

I would like to assure that the doors of the embassy will remain open to all Saudi Arabian Citizens and  students. We will provide to the best of our ability all the facilities and the support we can to help them achieve all their goals while here in Australia.”

I am also pleased to praise the current bilateral relationship between Saudi Arabia and Australia and I am committed and look forward to further developing this relationship in all fields”.

Saudi Arabia-Australia Joint Ministerial Commission Joint Communiqué

The ninth meeting of the Saudi Arabia-Australia Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) was held in Canberra on the 22nd of  March 2013 [10 Jumada Al-Ula 1434H]. The Commission was co-chaired by the Saudi Minister for Agriculture, His Excellency Dr Fahd Abdurahman Balghunaim and the Australian Minister for Trade and Competitiveness, Dr Craig Emerson. Dr Balghunaim also held discussions with his Australian counterpart, Senator Joe Ludwig, on agriculture issues on the 21st of March.

The Saudi delegation headed by Minister of Agriculture Dr. Fahd Balghunaim arrived Perth Airport in Western Australia was received by Saudi Charge D’affaires to Australia and New Zealand Reda bin Abdulmohsen Al-Nuzha.
The Kingdom’s delegation includes Director General of Grain Silos and Flour Mills Organization Eng. Walid Al-Khuraiji, Undersecretary of Ministry of Culture and Information for Foreign Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Saleh bin Salama, The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture for Fisheries Affairs Eng. Jaber Bin Mohammed Al-Shihri, Undersecretary Assistants of the Ministry of Agriculture for livestock affairs Dr Khaled Bin Mohammed Alfheed and a number of representatives of the ministries, governmental institutions, and businessmen.

Dr Emerson and Dr Balghunaim welcomed the friendly relations between Australia and Saudi Arabia, underpinned by substantial and long-standing economic relations. The JMC meeting, the first held since 2006, presented an important opportunity for discussions on re-invigorating and expanding trade, investment and commercial ties, including in agriculture, manufactures, education, energy and resources.

Ministers highlighted the importance of the private sector to expansion of the economic relationship. They welcomed the signing at the JMC meeting of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Australia-Saudi Business Council and the Council of Saudi Chambers establishing the Saudi-Australia Joint Business Council. Ministers noted also the opportunity presented by the JMC for business-to-business engagement.

The JMC meeting was supported by four officials-level working group meetings held on 21 March and covering: trade and investment; agriculture and food security; education and training; and energy and resources.

Picture (left): A Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Chairman, Tom Harley and Mr Samir Gabbani, on behalf of Mr Abdullah Al-Mobty, Chairman of the Council of Saudi Chambers and witnessed by the Minister for Trade and Competitiveness Dr Craig Emerson and the Saudi Minister for Agriculture the Hon Dr Fahd bin Abdurahman Balghunaim, in Canberra 

For more pictures from the official visit Click Here

National Multicultural Festival 2013 Showcase

SA Bulletin September 2012 Issue 56

Saudi National Day 2012

SA Bulletin July 2012 Issue 55