India,Saudi to give multiple-entry visa to traders

India and Saudi Arabia would now issue multiple-entry visas to businessmen in an effort to overcome regulatory hurdles blocking the growth of two-way trade.

A decision to this effect was taken at the Indo-Saudi Joint Commission meeting attended by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee and the Saudi minister of commerce and industry, Abdullah Zainal Alireza, at Riyadh at the weekend.

"This was a major impediment. Every time we wanted to come to Saudi Arabia to do business our people had visa issues; likewise, Saudi businessmen had similar complaints. Now that has been resolved," Sharad Nandurdikar of the Confederation of Indian Industry said.

Adnan A. Al-Nueim, secretary-general of the Asharqia Chamber, said Saudi Arabia's trade ties with India are set to grow further with the reciprocal visits. He said Saudi-Indian ties advanced after the 2006 visit of King Abdullah to India.

A 10-member delegation of Indian businessmen, which accompanied Mukherjee, also met key Saudi executives of the Eastern Province Chamber of Commerce and discussed taking the Indo-Saudi trade to the next level.

Nandurdikar said an important meeting is slated in Delhi early next year to address specific issues regarding processes and procedures affecting two-way trade.