HYDERABAD: Saudi Arabia is thinking seriously of appointing a consul in the City. Though Bangalore and Chennai are also being considered by one of the richest kingdoms in the Gulf, the balance is likely to swing in favour of Hyderabad.

One of the major reasons for Saudi Arabia plumping for the city is that the highest number of Muslims who go for Haj pilgrimage are from Andhra Pradesh. Another reason could be that people in the oil-rich country, including a large number of expatriates from India and Andhra Pradesh would like to do business here.

Yet another attraction is the increasing number of people from the kingdom coming here for treatment in corporate hospitals. Of late, many Saudi students have been coming here for higher studies.

Sources in the Indo-Arab League, which organised a meeting here on Saturday to condole the death of the late King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, said the proposal, mooted several years ago, was under consideration. They said a final decision would be taken by the Saudi Ambassador in New Delhi in consultation with the new ruler.

People-to-people ties

Saudis were said to be keen on doing business with Hyderabad. Details of the trade tie-ups could be discussed when the League would take a delegation on a visit likely to take place in two months. They said Saudis were keen on close relations between the two friendly countries on people-to-people basis. There was also the possibility of some Saudi banks opening their branches here, like those from Oman and Kuwait.

The kingdom's investments in Hyderabad, like Hi-Tec City, look possible with the First Secretary in the Embassy of Saudi Arabia, M.F. Al-Yousef, visiting Madhapur, along with other office-bearers of the Indo-Arab League on Sunday.

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