By Kay Scrimger and Tom McClimon
May 25, 2009

Saudi Arabia Hosts U.S. Mayoral Delegation

By Kay Scrimger and Tom McClimon

Ten U.S. mayors visited Saudi Arabia, May 7-14, as guests of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington (DC) The Embassy organized and funded the mission of U.S. mayors, assisted by the Conference of Mayors.

Led by Elizabeth (NJ) Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, the delegation included Mayors William V. “Bill” Bell, Durham (NC) Ardell F. Brede, Rochester (MN) Mark Burroughs, Denton (TX) William D. “Bill” Euille, Alexandria (VA) Bill Gluba, Davenport (IA) Phil Gordon, Phoenix (AZ) Mark Mallory, Cincinnati (OH) John Marks, Tallahassee (FL) and Mark Stodola, Little Rock (AR).

The goal was to give U.S. mayors the opportunity to learn first-hand about the Saudi economy, government, educational system, culture, and people, through meetings with high-ranking Saudi government officials, businesspeople, high school and college students, museum officials, and others.

Bollwage said, “The United States and Saudi Arabia are long-time friends and allies. This visit to Saudi Arabia was a remarkable opportunity to learn a great deal about its government, people, economy, and educational system. On behalf of our delegation, I would like to express our great appreciation to the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington (DC) for making this experience possible.”

Riyadh Government Officials

The delegation spent May 9-10 in the capital city of Riyadh, located in the central part of the nation. The work week in Saudi is Saturday through Wednesday. Beginning, on Saturday, May 9, the delegation met with a variety of national and local governmental officials, including His Royal Highness Prince Mansour bin Miteb bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Minister for Municipal and Rural Affairs; His Royal Highness Prince Turki Al-Faisal, Chairman of the King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies, and also former Saudi Ambassador to the United States; His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister for Petroleum Affairs, Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources; and His Excellency Minister Abdullah Alireza, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Alireza told the delegation that he was “grateful for your coming. Through discussion we can begin to understand each other better.”

His ministry oversees consumer protection, international exhibits, bilateral trade agreements, and relations with the World Trade Organization (WTO). The Minister headed the team that negotiated Saudi Arabia’s entrance into the WTO.

Like other officials with whom the delegation met, the Minister expressed great optimism for the U.S.'saudi relationship in the future, especially with the Presidency of Barack Obama.

Economic Cities Projected

The Saudi Arabia Investment General Authority (SAIGA), www.sagia.gov.sa, gave a detailed presentation May 9 on its five-year strategy for investing in “competitive and sustainable economic growth.”

Several SAIGA officials, including Dr. Osama I. Abdouh, Advisor, Transportation and Logistics Sector, explained that their goal is to forcefully demonstrate that Saudi is pro-business—“the best place to do business”—and thus to attract major foreign investment and funding from major international institutions, such as the World Bank; ensure development of a knowledge-based society; and be able to establish world class “Economic Cities.”

Having gained the authority to cut across and through governmental ministries, SAIGA envisions creation of a multi-modal transportation system, dual language literacy (Arabic and English) for 93 percent of Saudis by the year 2025, realization of a stream-lined single-government entity for business licensing and attraction of foreign investment, and creation of new cities that each contain an industrial zone, resort area, educational zone, central business district, and residential areas –“in short, 24-hour cities.”

Top Ministers in Riyadh

The delegation met May 10 with the Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy David H. Rundell. The U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia is not yet in place.

The mayors met the Minister of Foreign Affairs His Royal Highness Prince Saud Al-Faisal on Sunday, and then His Excellency Abdullah Al'sheikh, Chairman of the Consultative Council (Saudi Parliament), as well as members of several Consultative Council committees. The Consultative Council proposes new laws and amends existing ones. It consists of 150 members, appointed by the King for four-year terms that can be renewed.

In addition, the mayors met with His Royal Highness Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz, Acting Governor of Riyadh, and His Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Ayaf, Mayor of Riyadh.

On Sunday afternoon, the mayors met with officials from the Ministry of Interior for Security Affairs, learning about the rehabilitation program for men who had been imprisoned in Guantanamo, Cuba. They heard first-hand from their teachers as well as from three of the men themselves, who discussed the process. The delegation then met with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin nayef bin Abdulaziz, Assistant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs.

Eastern Province

The delegation traveled to the Eastern Province for Monday meetings, where the mayors met the U.S. Consul General Joseph A. Kenny and Political and Economic Officer Ramon Escobar in Damman, visited Dhahran Ahliyya Schools in the morning, viewed the Aramco Exhibit, and flew to the Empty Quarter to view the Shiba oil field.

Larger than France or Texas, the Empty Quarter is the largest area covered by sand on earth, considered one of the most remote and isolated regions in the world. Shiba was discovered in 1968 but only developed in the 1990’s when horizontal drilling technology emerged. It is a major Saudi oil and natural gas producing facility.

Jeddah Meeting

The last two days were spent in Jeddah, a large seaport in western Saudi, located on the Red Sea. The delegation visited on Tuesday, May 12, the Help Center, established in November 1985 to provide broad services and care to children with mental disabilities. Since its founding, the Center has provided services to more than 3,000 children, with the goal of encouraging social, communication, and self-help skills.

The delegation next met with officials of the National Association of Human Rights, followed by a meeting with His Royal Highness Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Governor of Makkah Region. The mayors then visited with professors and students of Dar Al-Hikma College for Women, and toured the campus.

Wednesday was devoted to a meeting with Khalid Ageel, Deputy Mayor of Jeddah, followed by lunch at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, learning about the range of services offered to businesses in the area, and about business and investment opportunities in Jeddah.

U.S. officials joining the delegation at various times included Louise A. Johnson, Political Officer, U.S. Embassy, who met the delegation at the airport upon their arrival in Riyadh, the first stop. U.S. Consul General in Damman Joseph A. Kenny and Political and Economic Officer Ramon Escobar met the delegation on Monday, May 11. Joining the delegation during their stay in Jeddah were U.S. Consul General Martin Quinn and Deborah Kanarek, Vice Consul, Jeddah.

Throughout the visit to Saudi Arabia the mayors were accompanied by Dr. Abdulmohsen Alyas, Deputy Director of Information, Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Washington (DC) and Rima Hassan, Public Affairs Officer.