Press Release No. 22

25 March 2007

Shri E. Ahamed, the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs to lead the Indian delegation at the Arab League Summit in Riyadh

India has been invited to attend the Arab League Summit being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on March 28-29, 2007. Shri E. Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs would lead the Indian delegation at the Ministerial level in the Summit. This is the third time India has been invited to the Arab Summit. The last two summits were held in Algiers and Khartoum in 2005 and 2006 respectively.

The people and Government of India attach great importance to the diversification and strengthening of traditional relations with the Arab people and Arab world. In keeping with this sentiment and help achieve our objectives, India has evolved close links with the Arab League, since the early years of our independence.

India enjoys the Observer status in the Arab League. India’s participation underlines the policy of enhancing the effectiveness of its relations with the Arab world. The participation in 2007 assumes significance in the light of the recent developments concerning Palestine, where a new Palestine National Unity Government has been formed. India’s traditional support to the legitimate rights and aspirations of the Palestinian people is well-known. India’s relations with the Arab countries have found reflection in individual Arab countries through extension of assistance for various developmental projects in a variety of sectors. Today, in a globalized world, new opportunities in the trade and investment sectors are available, for which closer economic cooperation between India and the Arab League is the future objective.

Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi

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