Ain-Al-Yaqeen - February 27, 2004

		February 27, 2004

AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE SAUDI-LEBANESE BUSINESS FORUM IN RIYADH.
PRINCE SALMAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ: SAUDI-LEBANESE CO-OPERATION IS A GOOD EXAMPLE FOR CO-OPERATION BETWEEN ARAB BROTHERS.
PRIME MINISTER RAFIQ AL-HARIRI HAILS THE CONTINUOUS SAUDI ARABIA SUPPORT TO LEBANON, SINCE THE TAIF PEACE ACCORD AND THE PARIS II CONFERENCE AND UP TO THE SAUDI PEACE INITIATIVE AT THE BEIRUT ARAB SUMMIT.

Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh region, patronized the Second Saudi-Lebanese Forum in the presence of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.

The Second Saudi-Lebanese Forum was organized by Riyadh's Chamber of Commerce and Industry in cooperation with the Group of Economy and Business, the Federation of the Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Lebanon and the Saudi-Lebanese Businessmen Council.

Prince Salman was welcomed by Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisey, the Chairman of Riyadh Chamber's Board of Directors and Chairman of Lebanese Federation Adnan Al-Kassar.

Speaking on the occasion, Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz praised the idea of the forum, and said it will positively contribute to enhancing cooperation between the Saudi and Lebanese businessmen.

'As excellent relations exist between the Kingdom and Lebanon, it will be possible for businessmen in the two countries to enhance their cooperation', the Prince said.

Prince Salman underlined the importance of Arab cooperation in a manner that benefits mutual interests.

He noted that the Kingdom and Lebanon have been adopting the policy of free enterprise, and added 'I do encourage Saudi-Lebanese cooperation and integration'.

Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz expressed hopes that the forum would yield positive results, and said the third Saudi-Lebanese forum will be held in Beirut next year.

Chairman of Riyadh's Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abdul-Rahman Al-Jeraisi lauded the patronage of Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz of this meeting, stressing that it would push ahead the growing process of the national economy.

He affirmed that this meeting comes within the distinguished relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Lebanon in all aspects.

On his part, Chairman of Lebanese Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Adnan Al-Qassar affirmed that this meeting is a great opportunity to open up new dimensions and to enhance ties between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

From his part the Lebanese Prime Minister Rafic Hariri called on Arab governments to provide the necessary legal framework and reform their economies to pave way for boosting private sector initiatives.

Mr. Hariri was speaking at the inauguration of the Second Saudi-Lebanese Businessmen's Forum in Riyadh. It was held under the auspices of Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz.

The forum was attended by a large number of business representatives from Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. It aims at bolstering Saudi-Lebanese economic relations. Mr. Hariri praised strong and historic Saudi-Lebanese ties, and hailed the continued support of Saudi Arabia for Lebanon, citing the Taif peace accord that was signed in the Kingdom and the Saudi contribution at the Paris II conference, which was the largest at the international economic meeting, as well as the Saudi peace initiative at the Beirut Arab Summit.

Premier Hariri also urged Arab governments to support the efforts of private sector initiatives, such as the Saudi-Lebanese Businessmen's Forum, by liberalizing trade, reforming economies and providing them with the necessary legal framework.

In his speech at the event, Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz the Governor of Riyadh region stressed that Lebanon and Saudi Arabia enjoy strong relations that should serve as a model for ties between Arab countries. Prince Salman and Prime Minister Hariri later launched an exhibition for Saudi-Lebanese businesses.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Riyadh's Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abdul-Rahman Al-Jeraisi said the second Saudi-Lebanese forum comes as a continuation to the first forum held last year.

He pointed out that the policy of economic reform in the Kingdom and Lebanon reflects the keenness of the two countries on matching the local and international economic changes, notably the phenomenon of globalization.

'A genuine Saudi-Lebanese partnership and creation of a Saudi-Lebanese economy liable for merger constitutes an important challenge for the forum, which is now attended by a number of experts and businessmen', he added.

On his part, the Chairman of Lebanese Federation of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Adnan Al-Qassar underscored the importance of the forum, and said it constitutes an important economic event.

He highlighted the existing economic and investment cooperation between the Kingdom and Lebanon, and said the Saudi-Lebanese Business Council, established in 2001, has been playing a positive role in further cementing Saudi-Lebanese economic relations.

Saudi and Lebanese businessmen opened the two-day forum which both sides said aimed at boosting already strong links, with the Lebanese looking to attract more Saudi investments in their tourism and service sectors.

The call came at the second Saudi-Lebanese Forum which Riyadh Governor Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz inaugurated in the presence of Lebanon's Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

It was the second such forum organized by Al-Iqtissad Wal Aamal magazine to identify joint venture possibilities between the two countries.

Last year, some 400 businessmen attended the first Saudi-Lebanese Economic Forum aimed at strengthening economic and commercial ties between the two countries.

The theme of discussions on both the occasion was ways of boosting cooperation in the areas of tourism, banking, investment, education, health, information technology, communications and real estate.

Both Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziza and the Lebanese Prime Minister Al- Hariri underlined the long-standing relations between the two countries. Prince Salman said the forum would help strengthen bilateral relations.

Prince Salman underlined the importance of Arab cooperation for the promotion of mutual interests. The Kingdom is the architect of the 1989 Taif Peace Accord that ended Lebanon's 15-year civil war.

Hariri said the private sector was now the driving force in any effort to integrate Arab economies. "Our duty as Arab governments is to provide the legal and institutional framework to facilitate private sector initiatives and let the private sector do its job."

Later, Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy, Chairman of the Council of Saudi Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the policy of economic reforms in the Kingdom and Lebanon reflected the keenness of both countries to respond to the challenges of globalization.

The forum was expected to identify the obstacles facing joint investment projects, and the reasons for a decline in trade exchange.

Lebanese ministers of trade, industry and agriculture, and representatives of the chambers of commerce and associations of contractors, hotels, hospitals and travel and tourism agents attended the meeting.

"We are seeking to attract private Saudi investments in tourism and services in general, but also in information technology projects," Samih Barbir, head of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), told AFP.

Barbir said IDAL would within three weeks announce the launch of a technology park to be built in Damour, south of the capital Beirut, that will aim to host international IT firms, taking advantage of Lebanon's highly skilled manpower.

The technology zone will take two years to be up and running, Barbir said, although he declined to reveal the projected cost.

The main such IT zone in the region is now located in the Gulf emirate of Dubai.

Barbir said Saudi private investments in Lebanon stood at some 300 million dollars at the end of 2002, out of 650 million dollars in total private Arab investments.

The Lebanese hoped to encourage Saudis to enter into more joint ventures, helped among others by a 2001 investment development law "which offers a range of incentives and tax breaks." Law 360 effectively went into force in January 2003 after its statutes were enacted, he said.

The Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri, Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz the Governor of Riyadh region and other prominent speakers at the opening all underlined the long-standing relations between Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, which sponsored the 1989 Taif agreement that ended Lebanon's 15-year civil war.

"The private sector has now become the driving force in any effort to integrate Arab economies. Our duty as Arab governments is to provide the legal and institutional framework to facilitate private sector initiatives ... and let the private sector do its job," Hariri told the gathering.

Rauf Abu Zaki, chairman of the Al-Iqtissad Wal Aamal (Economy and Business) Group which is a main organizer of the second Saudi-Lebanese Forum, noted that the meeting had been due to take place in Beirut late last year after the first round was held in Riyadh earlier in 2003.

But organizers chose to move it to Riyadh as "a token of solidarity" with the Saudis.

By doing so, the Lebanese were only returning the favor to Saudi Arabia, which stood by their country every step of the way, Abu Zaki said.

Lebanese Finance Minister Fuad Siniora told AFP that while Saudi businesses draw on the services of Lebanese because of their know-how and managerial skills, the Lebanese side at the forum would highlight "the great opportunities for Saudis to invest in Lebanon."

Such opportunities include the industrial field in addition to services such as tourism, medical services and education, "areas where the Lebanese have a relative advantage," he said.

On the government side, Saudi aid to post-war reconstruction of Lebanon included a 15-year loan of 700 million dollars pledged at a donors conference last year and a 500-million-dollar deposit in Lebanon's Central Bank which now stands at 300 million.

Meanwhile Lebanon's Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri held a meeting with Saudi and Lebanese businessmen and investors.

Premier Al-Hariri pointed to the opportunities and promotion of investment in Lebanon, noting that there is a governmental organization for investment promotion and provision of all required facilities to investors.

Prime Minister Rafic Hariri said any reform or democracy drive in the Middle East should be coupled with efforts to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict, and must take into consideration Arab points of view. At an open discussion with business figures on the sidelines of the Second Saudi-Lebanese Businessmen's Forum in Riyadh, Mr. Hariri also reaffirmed the need for strong Syrian-Lebanese coordination in the face of regional challenges.

The Prime Minister addressed economic, political and regional issues at the forum. He told delegates, at the Intercontinental Hotel in the Saudi capital, he was among the first figures to caution against distancing Arabs from the so-called "Greater Middle East" plan, which ostensibly aims at advancing political and economic reform.

He said Arab governments cannot be sidelined and the Middle East conflict should not be disregarded, because it remains a top priority for Arabs and Muslims.

Mr. Hariri stressed that Israel should end its occupation of Lebanese, Syrian and Palestinian territories, and allow the creation of a Palestinian state. He made clear that if the goal of a new regional plan is to fight terrorism, such an approach would only lead to a surge in terror activities.

The Prime Minister was asked about Syrian-Lebanese ties. Mr. Hariri told the forum that Syria also has an essential role to play, and cited the need for strong Syrian-Lebanese coordination over the Arab-Israeli conflict due to the dangers that both countries face and their national interests.

In response to a question about Iraqi deposits in Lebanon, Premier Hariri said Lebanese banks are withholding repayment of the deposits by the former Iraqi regime because they want to ensure they would not be asked to pay twice. He said the funds "were deposited with Lebanese banks, which have their own rules, not with the government," adding banks want "to be sure that if they pay to a certain side, they will not be asked to pay again." Mr. Hariri told the gathering that the funds would eventually be returned to Iraqis.

The Prime Minister urged investors to take part in Lebanon's development, and said the government has taken several steps to simplify bureaucratic hurdles and attract foreign capital. Despite a boom in tourism, banking and the service sector, Mr. Hariri said the government is also focusing on encouraging industries, to create job opportunities.

One of the participants at the forum asked the Premier about the electricity and water sectors. He told the gathering that both sectors now require a different approach of dealing with their finances. Mr. Hariri said there is waste in both sectors, resulting in budget deficits and losses.

On the other hand Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region, patronized the opening ceremony of phase I of Al -Thimamah park on the outskirts of the city of Riyadh.

Upon arrival at the venue, Prince Salman Ibn Abdul Aziz the Governor of Riyadh region was received by senior officials of the Riyadh Development Authority, which supervises the project.

He unveiled the plaque and toured the 50-tent facility and was briefed on its contents.

The park's designers plan to build 14 entertainment facilities, an open zoo, tents for families, expedition center for youths, cars race track, a museum and aviation club.

Investment projects in the park, which will be implemented by the private sector, are expected to amount to SR.2.5 billion. The government will undertake building the project's infrastructure worth SR100 million.

The event was attended by princes, ministers, a number of officials, businessmen and media representatives.

On another scale the Prince Fahd Ibn Sultan Social program in Tabuk has realized several achievements in the field of Charitable housing for the service of widows and orphans.

A report published said the Prince Fahd Ibn Sultan social program has implemented several projects in Tabuk covering water projects, housing, desalination water projects, the establishment of mosques, electricity services and health services.

The report said that Prince Fahd Ibn Sultan has financed these projects with more than SR 100 million.

The the Prince Fahd Ibn Sultan social program was launched on 1420 H to serve Tabuk region.

Tabuk Province is in the northwestern part of the Kingdom. It covers an area of approximately 95,000 square kilometers, which amounts to 4.2% of the country's overall area.

The Province consists of five towns, the most important of which are Al Wajeh and Diba, in addition to Tabuk city, the center of the province. The Province also has 62 administrative centers with a population of 607,000.

Tabuk city is considered the gateway to the Kingdom's northern borders. The city has become a significant tourist attraction, as it is ideally situated along a 500-kilometer stretch of coast that forms part of Aqaba Bay and the Red Sea.

Tabuk is an ancient city. It was originally known as Tabo. Many centuries ago, it was a route for trade connecting Ash' sham and Yemen. It is also a passageway for the pilgrims coming from the north. Therefore, the city is rich in historical monuments that are testament to its ancient past that dates back to pre-Islam.

The Province features some significant tourist sights, has a lot of groundwater and some minerals. There are also several factories that produce victuals, chemicals, and building materials. There is 164,000 acres of cultivated land producing grain, vegetables, fodder, dates, and fruit. The area also produces meat, milk, and honey.

Situated in northwestern Saudi Arabia, Tabuk is the provincial capital and headquarters of the Governor of the Tabuk region, local councils and branches of various governmental departments.

The region's ancient history dates back to 1500 BC. It is believed that the region of Tabouk was the land of Madyan and Dadan mentioned in the Holy books. It was known by the name "Taboo" when, with the town of Al Ola, it was the capital a prosperous state in the region.

Tabuk has became famous for its agricultural products, particularly flowers. The region's flower exports to Europe include gladiola, lilies and statices.

Tabuk's historic monuments include the mosque in which the Prophet, Peace Be Upon Him, where performed his prayers during the battle of Tabuk.

There is also the Tabuk fortress and the Hijaz Railway Station (the line used to link Al Madinah Al Munawarrah with Damascus during the Ottoman Era).

Al Bidaa is an important archeological town of glorious history. Its rich civilization is reflected in the numerous caves carved in the mountain.

There are also important archeological sites in Al Khuraibah, Rawwafa, Al Muwailih, Al Muzim and Taima. These include historic palaces and fortresses, wells, resting places and water wells.

The Tabuk region stretches north to Halat Ammar and Bir Bin Hammas; south to Omluj; east to Taima and Markaz; and west to the Red Sea.

Standing high above sea level, the town of Tabuk enjoys an equitable climate. Tabuk has enjoyed the benefits of a comprehensive development program, energetically implemented.

Tabuk is a town of great antiquity. In 500 B.C. Tabuk (then known as Taboo) was, with Al-Ola, the capital of Al-Ayaneyean. Tabuk is rich in historic monuments dating from before and after the time of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. Today, it happily combines an egregious past with the benefits of modern development.

Tabuk is the northern gateway to the Kingdom, close to the Jordanian border. It is the largest city in North Western Saudi Arabia and is mainly a military town. The city has a long historical background, the marks of which can be still seen today. Tabuk Fort was built by the Ottaman Turks, Circa 1655 and has been recently restored by the Saudi Government. Tabuk was also one of the major stops on the Hejaz Railway and is in the region of Lawrence of Arabia fame.

Tabuk is a modern city with wide avenues lined with trees. The city serves as an active commercial center especially as it lies along the route of pilgrams coming from Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon to visit Mecca to pay homage.

Tabuk is 2,200 feet above sea level. It's climate is more moderate than most parts of Saudi Arabia and has developed into a major agricultural area. There are a number of dairy and poultry farms scattered around the city.

On the other hand a report was published on Saudi Geology Survey Bureau.

On 25th October, 1999 (corresponding to 16 Rajab 1420 AH), the Council of Minister issued decision No 115, approving the establishment of the Saudi Geology Survey Bureau, an independent juristic organization to conduct all geological survey operations for the Kingdom's onshore and offshore areas. The objectives of the Bureau were defined as follows:

to Explore, investigate and record mineral resources.

to develop and upgrade geological database.

to conduct, on its own or through others, research and studies and to provide consultation services concerning its operations and activities to Government and private entities.

to provide geological services to the community and to lay down specifications for the geological environment and mining operation safety.

to develop specialized national manpower and to promoting Saudization.

Geological surveys and mineral exploration have revealed that, in addition to vast oil reserves, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia possesses large deposits of various minerals, including bauxite, copper, gold, iron, lead, silver, tin and a number of non-metallic minerals.

On 23rd March 1997, in order to coordinate projects and promote efficiency in the mining industry, the Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Maadin) was created, with an initial capital of more than $1 billion.

Maadin is responsible for regulating mineral exploration and overseeing its progress. Mining projects which are owned by the Government or in which the Government is participating are to be consolidated and rebuilt commercially. Maadin will also provide sufficient basic infrastructure for mining projects located in remote areas.

Maadin owns Mahd adh-Dhahab and as-Sukhaibirat mines and has obtained exploration licences for the gold deposits in Wadi Bidah, Al-Hajar, Ad-Duwaihi, Samran, Sheban, Zalm and Hamdah, for phosphate ore in Wadi Al Sarhan and Turaif, for magnesium in Zargat, Jabal Abt and Jabal Al Rukham, for zinc in Al Khnaiguiyah, as well as licenses for exploration of industrial metals in Jabal Sodah.