Australian Attorney-General Receives Saudi Ambassador

Attorney General George Brandis with Ambassador Al Saleh

Canberra, Jun 3, 2014

Australian Attorney-General Senator George Brandis met at his office here today Saudi Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand Nabil Al Saleh.

The meeting discussed means of enhancing bilateral cooperation in judicial and legal fields in addition to developing bilateral relations in various fields

Australian Minister of Justice Receives Saudi Ambassador

Minister of Justice Michael Keenan with Ambassador Al Saleh

Canberra, Jun 7, 2014

Australian Minister for Justice Michael Keenan received Saudi Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand Nabil Al Saleh.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and ways to promote them in all fields.

Minister for Justice Michael Keenan

NSW Premier Mike Baird meets with Saudi Arabia Ambassador

NSW Premier Mike Baird with Ambassador Al Saleh

Sydney, May 24, 2014,

New South Wales Premier Mike Baird met with Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Australia HE Nabil Al Saleh During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and means of developing them to serve the common interests of the two countries.

During the meeting, which was held on the sidelines of the annual celebration of the Australian Middle East Media, the two sides reviewed ways of strengthening relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and New South Wales State.

For his part, Premier Baird commended the relations existing between Australia and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on more than one level, noting the role played by Saudi students who are studying in universities and institutes in New South Wales State to build bridges between the two friendly peoples.

Saudi Ambassador to Australia Honours Departing Diplomats

Saudi Ambassador to Australia and New Zealand H.E Nabil Al Saleh ,  has honoured a number of departing diplomats who have ended their tenure at the Saudi Embassy in Canberra, Australia .

Amongst the departing diplomats include the Deputy Ambassador Faissal Hifzy, Second Secretary Mr  Mohammed M Alyahya ,  Mr Khaled Alghamedy and Hisham Alfayez.

The ambassador thanked the diplomats for their continued dedication and contribution to the Saudi Embassy in Australia and also wished them all the success in their new oncoming missions.

He thanked them for their assistance in catering for the growing number of Saudi students in Australia and also in fostering postivite bilateral relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Australia.

For their part, the diplomats expressed their appreciation to Ambassador Al Saleh for his unconditional support and cooperation throughout their term in the Saudi Embassy in Australia.

Saudi Embassy opens visa centre in Canberra

09 April 2014 – Canberra

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has signed contracts with specialised international companies that are capable of performing the necessary procedures of obtaining biometric data of applicants, including fingerprints, face identification and others. This is also a significant step in developing visas in Australia that are needed by those who are applying for entry into the Kingdom for the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage.

Amongst these companies is VFST Global Facilitation which will operate the centre in Australia and will replace existing service offices. This centre will have a major role in conducting the following:

1. Recording biometric data of all visa applicants ; this procedure aims to shorten waiting times at border ports of the Kingdom especially for pilgrims (Hajj and Umrah)

2. Regulating and enhancing the performance of visa services, as visa applicants will receive a high standard of service upon their application for a visa.

The centre’s location will be on the 4th Floor at 8 – 10 Hobart Place, Canberra ACT, Australian Capital Territory, 2601.

Ambassador Al Saleh meets with NZ Minister of Trade and Minister of Primary Industries

Ambassador Al Saleh with NZ Minister of Trade Tim Groser

The Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Australia and New Zealand Nabil Al Saleh met with the Minister of Primary Industries in New Zealand Nathan Guy in the city of Wellington, capital of New Zealand, in the presence of Deputy Ambassador Faisal Hifzi.

Minister Guy congratulated Ambassador Al Saleh for his submission of credentials as a non-resident ambassador of New Zealand. During the meeting, the Minister also discussed the bilateral relations between the two countries, and the also the issue of transferring technology in New Zealand to Saudi Arabia.

The meeting also welcomed the cooperation agreement on arrangements to export livestock, which was signed in Riyadh recently, which would support the balance of trade and also increase the agricultural and livestock investments between the two countries.

Ambassador Al Saleh also met the Minister of Trade in New Zealand Mr. Tim Groser in his office in the New Zealand Parliament. Mr. Grosser congratulated the Ambassador on his submission of credentials and also discussed a number of topics concerning the economic and trade relations between the two countries, in particular the signing of the Free-Trade Agreement.

Ambassador Al Saleh and the Deputy Ambassador Faisal Hifzi also held talks with the director of the Middle East Ministry of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, Jonathon Aston and the NZ Chief of Protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both parties there reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries and a number of issues of common interest.

Saudi Ambassador to Australia presents credentials to the Governor of New Zealand

The Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Australia and New Zealand, Mr Nabil Al Saleh presented his credentials as a non-resident Ambassador to the Governor General of New Zealand Sir Jerry Mateparae, in the Governor General’s official residence in the NZ capital, Wellington.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Al Saleh conveyed the greetings and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to the Governor General along with the people of New Zealand, wishing for the peace, progress and prosperity.

On his part, the Governor-General of New Zealand conveyed to the Ambassador his greetings to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, expressing his wishes for them of good health and wellness. Also wishing the continuing progress and prosperity to the people of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

He also expressed his wishes for good luck and success to the Ambassador of the Kingdom in the performance of his duties, stressing his country’s keenness to develop relations of friendship and cooperation with the Kingdom.

The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Ambassador Faisal Ghazi Hifzi , the first secretary in the Saudi Embassy Mr. Abdel Qadir Qurdi and the second secretary Mr. Yazeed Al Saleh.

Saudi Minister of Finance leads Saudi delegation to the G20 meeting in Sydney

(G-20) held its meetings at the level of its finance ministers and central bank governors of the member States in Sydney, Australia between 21 -24 February 2014 .

Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, Minister of Finance, led the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s delegation to the meeting with participation of Dr. Fahd bin Abdullah Al-Mubarak, Governor of Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), and Nabil bin Mohammed Al Saleh, Saudi Ambassador to Australia.

Upon arrival at Sydney Airport, Dr. Al-Assaf was received by Saudi Ambassador to Australia Nabil Al-Saleh, Deputy Ambassador Faissal Gazy Hifzi  and a number of other officials.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Dr. Al-Assaf said that the meeting’s agenda includes the latest developments of the global economy.

He added that the meeting aims to discuss investment in the infrastructure, including role of small and medium enterprises in this field and the role of the private sector generally to invest in infrastructure.

“This meeting is an opportunity to highlight the G20 on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s successful experiment regarding cooperation between the private sector and the governmental sector in the infrastructure,” the Minister of Finance said.

Al-Assaf added that the Kingdom’s message to the meeting is to enhance development of the global economy and reduce unemployment, stressing that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  always highlights issues pertaining to Arab and developing countries.

The meetings discuss among other issues the situation of the global economy; investment and infrastructure; and challenges facing the growth and reforms of the International Monetary Fund relating to quotas and governance.

Australian-Arab Businesswomen Forum Opened

The Australian-Arab Businesswomen Forum was opened under the theme “New Horizons”. The opening ceremony was attended by Senator Fierravanti-Wells, who has special responsibility for Multicultural Affairs & Settlement Services, Saudi Ambassador to Australia Nabil bin Mohammed Al Saleh and a number of officials.  The forum focuses on business opportunities between Australia and GCC member states in addition to means of activating the role of women in this field.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Social Services, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, today opened the 2014 Australian Arab Businesswomen’s Forum in Sydney.

Senator Fierravanti-Wells, who has special responsibility for Multicultural Affairs & Settlement Services, said the event focussed on commercial opportunities between Australia and the Middle East, with a particular emphasis on women.

“The 2014 Australian Arab Businesswomen’s Forum will continue to build our commercial and personal links between Australia and the Middle East,” Senator Fierravanti-Wells said.

Saudi Ambassador to Australia Meet with Australian NSW Minister of Education

The Saudi Ambassador to Australia H.E Mr Nabil bin Mohammed Al Saleh has met with Australian Minister of Education,Adrian Piccoli in the State of New South Wales.

During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral relations between the two countries in the fields of education, particularly discussing the role of Saudi Students who are studying in several NSW Universities and colleges.

Mr Piccoli spoke highly of the importance of having Saudi Students in NSW to connect with different cultures to build bridges between the two nations.

On his part, Ambassador Al Saleh thanked the Minister of Education in NSW and the various universities for their contribution and cooperation in providing a quality academic environment and education for the Saudi students.