Indian womens' team on bilateral visit of S. Arabia

New Delhi, Oct.8 (ANI): A six-member Indian womens' delegation is currently on a week-long visit of Saudi Arabia from October 8 to 14 to improve bilateral relations and establish better people-to-people contact between both countries, a Saudi Arabian Embassy release said.

The Saudi Arabian Embassy, in association with the Saudi Journalists Association, is organising the visit.

"It is hoped that this delegation's visit shall set the stage for more people-to-people contact between the two countries and take bilateral relation to a new height," the release said.

This visit follows the signing of the 'Delhi Declaration' and the 'Riyadh Declaration' during the respective visits of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to Delhi in December 2006 and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Riyadh in February this year.

The Saudi Journalists Association has arranged a welcome and interactive session with the delegation.

During their visit, the delegation will visit Prince Noura University, the Ladies Branch of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce, the Human Rights Association of Saudi Arabia, the Prince Sultan University and the King Abdulaziz National Dialogue Centre.

The delegation includes journalist and writer Nilofar Suhrawardy, former journalist and politician Louise Khurshid, Principal of Indraprastha College Babli Moitra, activist Madhu Kishwar, textile designer Madhu Rao Ayde and cosmetic surgeon Rashmi Taneja.

The release also made a mention of the booming trade between the two countries. Trade has increased from 300 million dollars in 2000 to 28 billion dollars in 2009.

In the last few years, there has also been a sharp rise in Business2Business exchanges, visits by eminent dignitaries and bilateral collaboration in different areas, the release said. (ANI)