Bahraini Spirit
March 16th, 2005, 01:05 PM
Hi, well good news for education in Saudi, enjoy:
Efforts are under way to establish a Saudi-American university in Riyadh, according to US Ambassador James C Oberwetter. "King Faisal Foundation is now working with American businessmen to establish the university where courses will be provided in accordance with Shariah," he said.
The ambassador said he expected a large number of Saudi students to apply for visas for higher studies in the US. "I want to correct the wrong impression that there is complication in visa procedures," he said, adding that the number of visas issued to Saudis now is close to the levels prevalent before September 11, 2001, said a report in the Arab News.
Oberwetter said economic reforms enhanced the Kingdom's openness to the world. "Saudi Arabia's efforts to join the World Trade Organization have served as a strong engine for its reform train and helped achieve economic transparency," he said. New regulations introduced by the Kingdom will encourage foreign investment and boost foreign trade, he added.
The ambassador emphasized the significance of professional, charitable, educational and women's organizations in strengthening the relation between the state and individuals and boosting economic, educational and social activities. He praised the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry for hosting the Saudi-American dialogue forum last week with the participation of academics and other prominent personalities from both sides.
He noticed considerable progress in the Kingdom's efforts to provide good education to its citizens and provide them with jobs at a time when a large number of young Saudi graduates are ready to enter the job market. The ambassador estimated the Kingdom's unemployment rate at 26 percent based on private studies. He said the Manpower Development Fund was instrumental in accelerating the Saudization drive, said the report.
Oberwetter also commended Saudi Arabia's openness toward foreign journalists. "These days we see a lot of American journalists coming to the Kingdom and spending their time visiting various parts of the country and chatting with its people to write good reports," he said and commended foreign journalists for their objective reporting.
"Despite the terrorist attacks in Riyadh, Alkhobar and Jeddah, American and other foreign journalists have succeeded in putting things in the right perspective, writing about their positive experiences here and giving a good picture of Saudi culture and traditions to their readers," he explained.
He commended the openness and the spirit of free and constructive dialogue in the Saudi press. "I have been keenly following up the press coverage of municipal elections and other local issues that affect Saudi people as well as the discussions on social issues in the press and on the Internet. I was also following up with interest the media campaigns for elections," he said.
Efforts are under way to establish a Saudi-American university in Riyadh, according to US Ambassador James C Oberwetter. "King Faisal Foundation is now working with American businessmen to establish the university where courses will be provided in accordance with Shariah," he said.
The ambassador said he expected a large number of Saudi students to apply for visas for higher studies in the US. "I want to correct the wrong impression that there is complication in visa procedures," he said, adding that the number of visas issued to Saudis now is close to the levels prevalent before September 11, 2001, said a report in the Arab News.
Oberwetter said economic reforms enhanced the Kingdom's openness to the world. "Saudi Arabia's efforts to join the World Trade Organization have served as a strong engine for its reform train and helped achieve economic transparency," he said. New regulations introduced by the Kingdom will encourage foreign investment and boost foreign trade, he added.
The ambassador emphasized the significance of professional, charitable, educational and women's organizations in strengthening the relation between the state and individuals and boosting economic, educational and social activities. He praised the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry for hosting the Saudi-American dialogue forum last week with the participation of academics and other prominent personalities from both sides.
He noticed considerable progress in the Kingdom's efforts to provide good education to its citizens and provide them with jobs at a time when a large number of young Saudi graduates are ready to enter the job market. The ambassador estimated the Kingdom's unemployment rate at 26 percent based on private studies. He said the Manpower Development Fund was instrumental in accelerating the Saudization drive, said the report.
Oberwetter also commended Saudi Arabia's openness toward foreign journalists. "These days we see a lot of American journalists coming to the Kingdom and spending their time visiting various parts of the country and chatting with its people to write good reports," he said and commended foreign journalists for their objective reporting.
"Despite the terrorist attacks in Riyadh, Alkhobar and Jeddah, American and other foreign journalists have succeeded in putting things in the right perspective, writing about their positive experiences here and giving a good picture of Saudi culture and traditions to their readers," he explained.
He commended the openness and the spirit of free and constructive dialogue in the Saudi press. "I have been keenly following up the press coverage of municipal elections and other local issues that affect Saudi people as well as the discussions on social issues in the press and on the Internet. I was also following up with interest the media campaigns for elections," he said.