Taking forward their economic ties, India and Saudi Arabia have agreed to grant long-term, multiple entry visas to businesspersons to facilitate their frequent visits and decided to strengthen cooperation in fields like customs, science and technology and oil, gas and minerals.

The decision followed extensive discussions at the eighth session of the Indo-Saudi Joint Commission at the Riyadh Conference Palace yesterday, during which Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee led the Indian side while the kingdom's delegation was headed by its Commerce and Industry Minister Abdullah Zainal Alireza.

The new scheme, under which long-term, multiple entry visas would be granted to entrepreneurs, would facilitate frequent business visits from both sides and enhance bilateral economic and commercial exchanges, officials said.

The Indian and Saudi sides held talks on a plethora of issues ranging from economic and commercial exchanges, investment, security to labour, visas and community welfare.

The two sides also decided to cooperate in the fields of customs and oil, gas and minerals, apart from strengthening cooperation in the science and technology sector. New areas of cooperation such as engineering, agricultural and higher education were also discussed.

"The Indo-Saudi Joint Commission meeting was fruitful and brought in new vistas of cooperation thereby deepening the economic and commercial relations," Mukherjee told reporters.

"The meeting also addressed the concerns of both sides regarding visas, labour issues and community welfare matters," Mukherjee said.

Both sides also agreed to set up a monitoring mechanism that would report to the respective co-chairs every six months on the progress in implementation of the recommendations made during the meeting.

... contd.