kingdom of saudi arabia – australia

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KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA AND AUSTRALIA REGIONAL PARTNERS GLOBAL LEADERS

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Book exploring the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Australia

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KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIAAND AUSTRALIA

REGIONAL PARTNERSGLOBAL LEADERS

SAMPLE ONLY

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia&

Australia

Regional PartnersGlobal Leaders

4 | CONTENTS

Table of Contents Participants

Roll of Honour of Participating Companies 4 Advisory Group Chairman’s message, Dr. Glen Simpson 5

ForwardsSaudi Minister for Trade and Industry, HE Abdullah Ahmed Zainal Alireza 6 Australian Minister for Trade, The Hon Dr Craig Emerson MP. 7

IntroductionsKingdom of Saudi Arabia Ambassador, H.E Hassan Nazer 8 Australian Ambassador to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Kevin Magee 9

1 Chapter One — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia–Australian Relationship 10

An overview of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia–Australia relationship as it stands today, including trade, political, cultural and investment links and key areas of growth opportunity.

Messages: Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal, Chairman of Kingdon Holdings 20

Ms Lubna Olayan, CEO of Olayan Financing Company 21

John Grill, CEO of Wordley Parsons 22

Anthony Abraham, CEO of Macquarie Agricultural Funds Management and Executive Director,

Macquarie Group Limited, Director of Macquarie Alternative Assests Management Limited 23

2 Chapter Two — Challenges and opportunities 28

The Kingdom’s role as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Islam and Islamic culture. Australia as a multi-cultural country within the Asia-Pacific.

Messages: HRH Princess Mashel bint Faisal, President of the Business Women’s Forum 44

HRH Princess Lowia Al Faisal, Vice Chair, Board of Effat College 45

Dr Abdullah Saeed, NCEIS 46

Mr Al Bishri, Saudi Culture Attache to Australia 47

3 Chapter Three — Bilateral ties 48

A showcase of key business and investment sectors.

3·1 Agribusiness and food 48

3·2 Education 56

3·3 Construction and engineering 60

3·4 Healthcare and medical 66

3·5 International trade and logistics 72

3·6 Engineering and sustainable development 76

3·7 Automotive and manufacturing 80

3·8 Business financial services 84

3·9 Equine trade 88

CONTENTS | 5

Messages: Dr Fawaz Al Alamy, Former Deputy Minister for Commerce and

Chief Negotiator in KSA WTO ascension 92

Dr Amin Saikal, ANU Australia-Saudi Relations 93

Colonel Turki, SANG (Saudi Arabian National Guard) 94

TBA, 95

4 Chapter Four — Doing business the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 96

Advantages as investment destination; Key government and trade bodies; government and trade bodies, investment attraction support systems: financial markets and regulatory environment; Major cities; major projects and economic cities in the Kingdom; commercial centres; centres of excellence; Systems of government and regulatory framework; Educational system; Business culture, etiquette and style.

Messages: HE Amr Dabbagh, Governer of SAGIA 107

Mr Nick Daicos, Head of Country Al Tamimi 108

Cynthia Dearin, AACCI 109

5 Chapter Five — Doing business in Australia 110

Advantages as investment destination; Key government and trade bodies; investment attraction support systems; Financial markets and regulatory environment; Systems of government and regulatory framework; Educational system and options; Business culture, etiquette and style.

Messages: Tim Harcourt, Chief Economist Austrade 107

Mr Steve Wilson, ABGSA 108

TBD Saudi 109

Seperator between the two halves of the book 158

Chapter One — The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia–Australian Relationship An overview of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia–Australia relationship as it stands today, including trade,

political, cultural and investment links and key areas of growth opportunity.

Messages: Prince Al Waleed Bin Talal, Chairman of Kingdon Holdings

Ms Lubna Olayan, CEO of Olayan Financing Company

John Grill, CEO of Wordley Parsons

Anthony Abraham, CEO of Macquarie Agricultural Funds Management and Executive Director,

Macquarie Group Limited, Director of Macquarie Alternative Assests Management Limited

IntroductionsKingdom of Saudi Arabia Ambassador, H.E Hassan Nazer Australian Ambassador to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Kevin Magee

ForwardsSaudi Minister for Trade and Industry, HE Abdullah Ahmed Zainal Alireza Australian Minister for Trade, The Hon Dr Craig Emerson MP.

Participants Roll of Honour of Participating Companies

Advisory Group Chairman’s message, Dr. Glen Simpson

6 | ROLL OF HONOUR

ENGLISH ROLE OF HONOUR

ADVISORY GROUP | 7

Advisory Group Chairman’s messageDr. Glen Simpson

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam commodo dignissim nibh vel luctus.

Curabitur at ante at enim volutpat dapibus. Vivamus lacinia lectus vitae odio semper interdum. Duis in

justo eget metus blandit posuere. Nunc bibendum, quam eget lacinia tempor, enim neque laoreet justo,

nec mattis quam eros sit amet ipsum. Sed tincidunt placerat dapibus.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam commodo dignissim nibh vel luctus.

Curabitur at ante at enim volutpat dapibus. Vivamus lacinia lectus vitae odio semper interdum. Duis in

justo eget metus blandit posuere. Nunc bibendum, quam eget lacinia tempor, enim neque laoreet justo,

nec mattis quam eros sit amet ipsum. Sed tincidunt placerat dapibus. Praesent tempor aliquet luctus.

Nullam augue mi, tristique eu elementum dictum, eleifend in risus. Sed id nunc nisi, et fermentum

diam. Donec condimentum lacinia urna, eu porttitor diam tempor ut.

Proin in suscipit ligula. Nam turpis nisi, consequat a consequat ut, cursus nec arcu. Aenean venenatis

ornare placerat. Fusce venenatis diam ac enim euismod nec porta velit convallis. Proin sit amet arcu eu

justo mollis sodales eu semper diam. Vestibulum vel lacus sem. Morbi lectus ligula, porta ut semper in,

viverra ut dui. Maecenas nec eros dolor, non cursus quam. Nunc quis nulla sed eros dignissim porta.

Nam a ultrices sem. Nam augue sapien, tempor sed pharetra a, lacinia lobortis ante. Praesent et sapien

urna. Nunc vitae sodales lacus. Cras ac erat diam. Donec tempor iaculis mauris eu dignissim. Vestibulum

est ante, accumsan eget porta nec, iaculis sit amet justo. Fusce eget neque nisi. Aliquam ligula elit,

sodales laoreet sodales vitae, mollis sed nulla.

Praesent pharetra massa vitae leo vulputate aliquet. Vestibulum est lacus, mollis sit amet rutrum

vulputate, condimentum vel ligula. Sed viverra rutrum ligula, sed facilisis est gravida a. Aliquam a augue

magna. Vivamus mollis porta mauris eget facilisis. Nam faucibus imperdiet leo. Duis eu tellus nibh,

in pellentesque justo. Pellentesque et faucibus lacus. Etiam at diam non tellus euismod pellentesque

semper et massa. Nam laoreet tempor lacus aliquet volutpat. Nunc porta risus vitae dolor congue in

vulputate dolor tempor.

Dr. Glen Simpson

8 | FORWORD

Forward Saudi Minister for Trade and Industry, HE Abdullah Ahmed Zainal Alireza

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam commodo dignissim nibh vel luctus.

Curabitur at ante at enim volutpat dapibus. Vivamus lacinia lectus vitae odio semper interdum. Duis in

justo eget metus blandit posuere. Nunc bibendum, quam eget lacinia tempor, enim neque laoreet justo,

nec mattis quam eros sit amet ipsum. Sed tincidunt placerat dapibus.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam commodo dignissim nibh vel luctus.

Curabitur at ante at enim volutpat dapibus. Vivamus lacinia lectus vitae odio semper interdum. Duis in

justo eget metus blandit posuere. Nunc bibendum, quam eget lacinia tempor, enim neque laoreet justo,

nec mattis quam eros sit amet ipsum. Sed tincidunt placerat dapibus. Praesent tempor aliquet luctus.

Nullam augue mi, tristique eu elementum dictum, eleifend in risus. Sed id nunc nisi, et fermentum

diam. Donec condimentum lacinia urna, eu porttitor diam tempor ut.

Proin in suscipit ligula. Nam turpis nisi, consequat a consequat ut, cursus nec arcu. Aenean venenatis

ornare placerat. Fusce venenatis diam ac enim euismod nec porta velit convallis. Proin sit amet arcu eu

justo mollis sodales eu semper diam. Vestibulum vel lacus sem. Morbi lectus ligula, porta ut semper in,

viverra ut dui. Maecenas nec eros dolor, non cursus quam. Nunc quis nulla sed eros dignissim porta.

Nam a ultrices sem. Nam augue sapien, tempor sed pharetra a, lacinia lobortis ante. Praesent et sapien

urna. Nunc vitae sodales lacus. Cras ac erat diam. Donec tempor iaculis mauris eu dignissim. Vestibulum

est ante, accumsan eget porta nec, iaculis sit amet justo. Fusce eget neque nisi. Aliquam ligula elit,

sodales laoreet sodales vitae, mollis sed nulla.

Praesent pharetra massa vitae leo vulputate aliquet. Vestibulum est lacus, mollis sit amet rutrum

vulputate, condimentum vel ligula. Sed viverra rutrum ligula, sed facilisis est gravida a. Aliquam a augue

magna. Vivamus mollis porta mauris eget facilisis. Nam faucibus imperdiet leo. Duis eu tellus nibh,

in pellentesque justo. Pellentesque et faucibus lacus. Etiam at diam non tellus euismod pellentesque

semper et massa. Nam laoreet tempor lacus aliquet volutpat. Nunc porta risus vitae dolor congue in

vulputate dolor tempor.

HE Abdullah Ahmed Zainal Alireza

FORWORD | 9

Forward Australian Minister for Trade, The Hon Dr Craig Emerson MP

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam commodo dignissim nibh vel luctus.

Curabitur at ante at enim volutpat dapibus. Vivamus lacinia lectus vitae odio semper interdum. Duis in

justo eget metus blandit posuere. Nunc bibendum, quam eget lacinia tempor, enim neque laoreet justo,

nec mattis quam eros sit amet ipsum. Sed tincidunt placerat dapibus.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam commodo dignissim nibh vel luctus.

Curabitur at ante at enim volutpat dapibus. Vivamus lacinia lectus vitae odio semper interdum. Duis in

justo eget metus blandit posuere. Nunc bibendum, quam eget lacinia tempor, enim neque laoreet justo,

nec mattis quam eros sit amet ipsum. Sed tincidunt placerat dapibus. Praesent tempor aliquet luctus.

Nullam augue mi, tristique eu elementum dictum, eleifend in risus. Sed id nunc nisi, et fermentum

diam. Donec condimentum lacinia urna, eu porttitor diam tempor ut.

Proin in suscipit ligula. Nam turpis nisi, consequat a consequat ut, cursus nec arcu. Aenean venenatis

ornare placerat. Fusce venenatis diam ac enim euismod nec porta velit convallis. Proin sit amet arcu eu

justo mollis sodales eu semper diam. Vestibulum vel lacus sem. Morbi lectus ligula, porta ut semper in,

viverra ut dui. Maecenas nec eros dolor, non cursus quam. Nunc quis nulla sed eros dignissim porta.

Nam a ultrices sem. Nam augue sapien, tempor sed pharetra a, lacinia lobortis ante. Praesent et sapien

urna. Nunc vitae sodales lacus. Cras ac erat diam. Donec tempor iaculis mauris eu dignissim. Vestibulum

est ante, accumsan eget porta nec, iaculis sit amet justo. Fusce eget neque nisi. Aliquam ligula elit,

sodales laoreet sodales vitae, mollis sed nulla.

Praesent pharetra massa vitae leo vulputate aliquet. Vestibulum est lacus, mollis sit amet rutrum

vulputate, condimentum vel ligula. Sed viverra rutrum ligula, sed facilisis est gravida a. Aliquam a augue

magna. Vivamus mollis porta mauris eget facilisis. Nam faucibus imperdiet leo. Duis eu tellus nibh,

in pellentesque justo. Pellentesque et faucibus lacus. Etiam at diam non tellus euismod pellentesque

semper et massa. Nam laoreet tempor lacus aliquet volutpat. Nunc porta risus vitae dolor congue in

vulputate dolor tempor.

The Hon Dr Craig Emerson MP

10 | INTRODUCTION

IntroductionKingdom of Saudi Arabia Ambassador, H.E Hassan Nazer

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscng elit. Nam commodo dignissim nibh vel luctus.

Curabitur at ante at enim volutpat dapibus. Vivamus lacinia lectus vitae odio semper interdum. Duis in

justo eget metus blandit posuere. Nunc bibendum, quam eget lacinia tempor, enim neque laoreet justo,

nec mattis quam eros sit amet ipsum. Sed tincidunt placerat dapibus.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam commodo dignissim nibh vel luctus.

Curabitur at ante at enim volutpat dapibus. Vivamus lacinia lectus vitae odio semper interdum. Duis in

justo eget metus blandit posuere. Nunc bibendum, quam eget lacinia tempor, enim neque laoreet justo,

nec mattis quam eros sit amet ipsum. Sed tincidunt placerat dapibus. Praesent tempor aliquet luctus.

Nullam augue mi, tristique eu elementum dictum, eleifend in risus. Sed id nunc nisi, et fermentum

diam. Donec condimentum lacinia urna, eu porttitor diam tempor ut.

Proin in suscipit ligula. Nam turpis nisi, consequat a consequat ut, cursus nec arcu. Aenean venenatis

ornare placerat. Fusce venenatis diam ac enim euismod nec porta velit convallis. Proin sit amet arcu eu

justo mollis sodales eu semper diam. Vestibulum vel lacus sem. Morbi lectus ligula, porta ut semper in,

viverra ut dui. Maecenas nec eros dolor, non cursus quam. Nunc quis nulla sed eros dignissim porta.

Nam a ultrices sem. Nam augue sapien, tempor sed pharetra a, lacinia lobortis ante. Praesent et sapien

urna. Nunc vitae sodales lacus. Cras ac erat diam. Donec tempor iaculis mauris eu dignissim. Vestibulum

est ante, accumsan eget porta nec, iaculis sit amet justo. Fusce eget neque nisi. Aliquam ligula elit,

sodales laoreet sodales vitae, mollis sed nulla.

Praesent pharetra massa vitae leo vulputate aliquet. Vestibulum est lacus, mollis sit amet rutrum

vulputate, condimentum vel ligula. Sed viverra rutrum ligula, sed facilisis est gravida a. Aliquam a augue

magna. Vivamus mollis porta mauris eget facilisis. Nam faucibus imperdiet leo. Duis eu tellus nibh,

in pellentesque justo. Pellentesque et faucibus lacus. Etiam at diam non tellus euismod pellentesque

semper et massa. Nam laoreet tempor lacus aliquet volutpat. Nunc porta risus vitae dolor congue in

vulputate dolor tempor.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Australia, H.E Hassan Nazer

INTRODUCTION | 11

IntroductionAustralian Ambassador to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Kevin Magee

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam commodo dignissim nibh vel luctus.

Curabitur at ante at enim volutpat dapibus. Vivamus lacinia lectus vitae odio semper interdum. Duis in

justo eget metus blandit posuere. Nunc bibendum, quam eget lacinia tempor, enim neque laoreet justo,

nec mattis quam eros sit amet ipsum. Sed tincidunt placerat dapibus.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam commodo dignissim nibh vel luctus.

Curabitur at ante at enim volutpat dapibus. Vivamus lacinia lectus vitae odio semper interdum. Duis in

justo eget metus blandit posuere. Nunc bibendum, quam eget lacinia tempor, enim neque laoreet justo,

nec mattis quam eros sit amet ipsum. Sed tincidunt placerat dapibus. Praesent tempor aliquet luctus.

Nullam augue mi, tristique eu elementum dictum, eleifend in risus. Sed id nunc nisi, et fermentum

diam. Donec condimentum lacinia urna, eu porttitor diam tempor ut.

Proin in suscipit ligula. Nam turpis nisi, consequat a consequat ut, cursus nec arcu. Aenean venenatis

ornare placerat. Fusce venenatis diam ac enim euismod nec porta velit convallis. Proin sit amet arcu eu

justo mollis sodales eu semper diam. Vestibulum vel lacus sem. Morbi lectus ligula, porta ut semper in,

viverra ut dui. Maecenas nec eros dolor, non cursus quam. Nunc quis nulla sed eros dignissim porta.

Nam a ultrices sem. Nam augue sapien, tempor sed pharetra a, lacinia lobortis ante. Praesent et sapien

urna. Nunc vitae sodales lacus. Cras ac erat diam. Donec tempor iaculis mauris eu dignissim. Vestibulum

est ante, accumsan eget porta nec, iaculis sit amet justo. Fusce eget neque nisi. Aliquam ligula elit,

sodales laoreet sodales vitae, mollis sed nulla.

Praesent pharetra massa vitae leo vulputate aliquet. Vestibulum est lacus, mollis sit amet rutrum

vulputate, condimentum vel ligula. Sed viverra rutrum ligula, sed facilisis est gravida a. Aliquam a augue

magna. Vivamus mollis porta mauris eget facilisis. Nam faucibus imperdiet leo. Duis eu tellus nibh,

in pellentesque justo. Pellentesque et faucibus lacus. Etiam at diam non tellus euismod pellentesque

semper et massa. Nam laoreet tempor lacus aliquet volutpat. Nunc porta risus vitae dolor congue in

vulputate dolor tempor.

Australian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Kevin Magee

1

Q1 is the highest residential

building in the world. Gold Coast,

Queensland, Australia.

PHOTO: Jenny Bonner

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Australia share many common interests and values. The two countries

have experienced challenges in common of often harsh and dry environments, building modern

national infrastructures with limited populations, dispersed over large distances, and endeavouring to

deploy their immense wealth of natural resources to ensure the future wellbeing of their peoples. Both

countries achieved nationhood in the 20th Century, yet both have cultures and values forged from

ancient traditions and from solid beliefs that continue to inform and enrich their everyday life.

Saudi Arabia and Australia are both of considerable strategic importance in their respective regions

of the world. They are energy giants: Saudi Arabia in oil and gas and Australia in coal, uranium and,

increasingly, in natural gas. Both are mindful of the need to conserve and protect what is perhaps their

most precious and precarious resource: water.

This publication provides an in-depth review of the importance and growing potential of the

relationship between these two significant countries — both vital to world trade. In addition to

reviewing the many facets of their commercial engagement and raising awareness of mutual business

THE SAUDI — AUSTRALIAN RELATIONSHIP | 13

The Saudi–Australian Relationship

PART 1

opportunities, the aim is to consider the cultural and

social aspects of life in both countries that underpin their

value systems, and thereby help to bring about a deeper

understanding of each other’s culture and character.

Shared economic outlookSaudi Arabia and Australia have weathered the global

financial crisis better than most. Through judicious

management of their financial systems and sound

governance principles they have avoided the excesses that

have forced many countries into recession and long periods

of economic austerity.

Australia and Saudi Arabia entered the crisis on a solid

financial footing. Both governments took rapid, decisive

action to support aggregate demand, whilst setting early

targets to restore budgetary balance. Both are resuming

their trajectories of growth — and are well positioned to

share in its each other’s burgeoning business opportunities.

The commercial environmentTo many people, the relationship between the Kingdom of

Saudi Arabia and Australia seems largely one of trade – of

hydrocarbon products swapped for agricultural produce.

Whilst this perception may have had some resonance in the

past, the reality is far different today.

In 2009, Saudi Arabia was Australia’s second largest

export market in the Middle East, with merchandise

exports exceeding $A1.7 billion. In the same year, Saudi

Arabia was Australia’s 17th largest global market, and

the major market for Australian-made passenger motor

vehicles, which alone were worth $A811 million.

The current leader in automotive exports is Toyota

Motor Corporation Australia (TMCA), which in October

2010 exported its 500,000th vehicle to Saudi Arabia.

TMCA has been manufacturing vehicles in Australia since

1963, and in 2009–10 the company produced 105,826

Australian-made cars for the Australian and overseas

14 | THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — AUSTRALIA: REGIONAL PARTNERS, GLOBAL LEADERS

The Australian Stock Exchange at 20 Bridge Street, Sydney.

markets. The Toyota Camry has strong acceptance for

reliability — and has been a vehicle of choice for the taxi

industry in Gulf countries — although competition from

Korea and elsewhere is growing.

The General Motors Holden (GMH) Caprice, badged

Chevrolet Caprice for the Middle East market, is also a

strong performer in Saudi Arabia, appreciated for its rear-

wheel drive performance, as was its previous stablemate,

the Statesman. The Holden Commodore, re-badged the

Chevrolet Lumina, is also doing well. The Middle East is the

strongest performing market for GMH.

All Australian vehicles are acknowledged as well suited

to Saudi Arabia’s hot and dry weather conditions. They

have superior dust control and robust air-conditioning,

built as they are to perform in the extremes of the

Australian climate.

Australia’s other major exports to Saudi Arabia include

barley, meat products (excluding beef) and dairy goods,

as well as vehicle parts and accessories. Saudi Arabia was

Australia’s third largest market in the Middle East for live

sheep in 2009 — importing 576,000 head that were valued

at $A55 million.

In response, Saudi Arabia direct exports to Australia

totalled $A631 million in 2009, with approximately half

these exports being crude petroleum. The other exports,

reflecting the sophistication of the Saudi petrochemical

industries, were principally fertilisers, liquefied propane

and butane, as well as primary ethylene polymers.

The most prominent producer in this field is Saudi

Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC), which is a world

leader in the manufacture of petrochemicals (such as

olefins, oxygenates and aromatics, as well as a range of

chemical intermediaries used in everyday essentials like

textiles, soaps and plastics), fertilisers (including urea

and phosphates), as well as steel production. SABIC is the

largest public company in Saudi Arabia, which in 2008

THE SAUDI — AUSTRALIAN RELATIONSHIP | 15

Australia and Saudi Arabia entered

the crisis on a solid financial footing.

Both governments took rapid, decisive

action to support aggregate demand,

whilst setting early targets to restore

budgetary balance.

was ranked the No. 1 chemical producer in Asia and No. 4

in the world.

In addition to this direct merchandise trade, a substantial

indirect trade in petroleum products exists through

Singapore’s major oil refining installations, where the

refined products of lighter Australian crude oil and those of

heavier Saudi crudes are extensively swapped for different

market applications throughout the Asia Pacific region.

In the services sector, many Australian companies

and more than 4000 Australian professionals, other

experts and their families are living in Saudi Arabia, and

contributing to Saudi Arabia’s rapid modernisation and

economic growth. Australians are well represented in

construction and engineering, the oil industry, mining

and agribusiness, financial services, health, hospitality

and education.

In May 2010, Australia and Saudi Arabia signed a

memorandum of understanding in higher education to

build stronger cooperative ties between their respective

higher education institutions, encouraging research

cooperation and the exchange of academic staff, researchers

and students between the two nations. An example of the

quality of this collaboration is the signing of a research

collaboration agreement in DNA replication between

the prestigious King Abdullah University of Science and

Technology (KAUST) and the University of Wollongong in

October 2010. This research partnership is similar to ones

that KAUST has in place with universities of the calibre of

Harvard, Stanford and Oxford.

Other areas of research where there is a special

commonality of interest between Saudi Arabia and

Australia is in the field of dry-land farming, including

the use of medics and other legumes to increase the

productivity of land. In this context, it is interesting to

note the achievements of South Australian agronomists

and farmers in the introduction of exotic legumes to

Australian soils. A number of the original medics were

sourced from the Middle East early last century and further

cultivated in Australia. Both Australian and Saudi Arabian

agricultural experts are also deeply engaged in redressing

the problems of soil salinity that afflict the soils of both

countries, as well as the preservation of aquifers and overall

water conservation and utilisation.

There are some 12,500 Saudi students currently

enrolled in Australian educational institutions, including

undergraduate, postgraduate and research students.

Since mid-2010, most, if not all, Saudi students studying

in Australia have been on full-support scholarships,

provided by the King Abdullah Scholarships Program.

Previously a small number of students covered their

own expenses. The new provisions, recently introduced,

are not restricted to the types of courses undertaken,

although there are guidelines with regard to the

institutions selected for those programs.

Saudi students have been well accepted in Australia and

play an active role in their local communities. The Saudi

Government also provides considerable social support, in

addition to financial assistance, to meet the needs of its

His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud

16 | THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — AUSTRALIA: REGIONAL PARTNERS, GLOBAL LEADERS

students studying in Australia, and has established the

Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM) under the aegis of

the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Ministry

of Higher Education. SACM’s regional office for the Asia-

Pacific region was moved to Canberra in 2004, and sees to

the interests of Saudi students; it monitors their progress

and helps them to overcome issues that may impact their

lives and impede their studies.

Investment linksIn investment terms, Australian investments in Saudi

Arabia in 2009 were estimated to total some $A64

million. There are signs that this is increasing as a result

of interest from the Australian mining and exploration

industries. In June 2010, the Citadel Resource Group

(ASX: CGG) closed a $A250 million capital raising for a

joint venture in a high-grade copper and gold project at

Jabal Sayid, some 350km northeast of Jeddah. Citadel,

with its Saudi company, Bariq Mining, is focusing its

exploration activities particularly on the Arabian Shield

region that flanks the Red Sea.

Saudi investment interest in Australia is also increasing

significantly, although it is difficult to quantify investments

as Saudi interests often do not need to disclose their

holdings as readily as publicly-listed foreign corporations.

Saudi investments tend to be made through private or

government owned corporations. A relatively recent

acquisition, in mid-2008, was Bemax Resources Limited,

a leading Western Australian mineral sands miner, by

a holding company of the Saudi National Titanium

Dioxide Company Limited (known as Cristal), which is

headquartered in Jeddah.

Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), one of the world’s

largest and most diversified private investment companies,

founded by the financial visionary, HRH Prince Alwaleed

Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, holds a 5.5 per cent

interest in News Corporation’s common voting stock and is

exploring possible media ventures with News Corp in the

Middle East. In May 2009 Prince Alwaleed met with the

then Foreign Minister, the Hon. Stephen Smith, to discuss

a range of matters, including future potential investments

of benefit also to Australia. The Minister invited Prince

Alwaleed to visit Australia to explore further business

opportunities.

Another significant Saudi organisation with interest in

developing closer investment links with Australia is the

THE SAUDI — AUSTRALIAN RELATIONSHIP | 17

Processing from mining resources

in Australia.

Olayan Group, a major private sector conglomerate with

over 50 subsidiary companies. It is also a global investor

in public and private equities. Olayan’s subsidiary, General

Trading Company (GTC), is among the largest importers

and distributors of consumer goods in Saudi Arabia, and

has long-standing links with SunRice of Australia, one of

the largest branded rice companies in the world.

In terms of mobilising more capital for foreign

investment, Saudi Arabia is in the process of creating

a sovereign wealth fund (SWF). The vehicle, Sanabil

al-Saudia, is managed under the umbrella of the Public

Investment Fund (PIF), which was established in 1971 to

facilitate the development of the country. In 2008 Sanabil

al-Saudia was formed, with an investment capital of $US5.3

billion, initially to focus on investments in the technology

sector. Market observers suggest that Sanabil al-Saudia is

likely to broaden its investment focus as it beds down its

management teams and investment strategies.

Also in 2008, the Saudi Government unveiled the

Hassana Investment Company as a new vehicle to

invest public pension funds in global equity markets.

These moves were regarded as a significant break from

tradition, as the Government of Saudi Arabia has

pursued conservative investment polices, managed

through the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA),

Saudi Arabia’s central bank. The Financial Times reported

in March 2009 that “85 per cent of the Kingdom’s

foreign reserves of some $US500 billion are in dollar-

denominated, fixed-income securities and, unlike other

Gulf states, it does not yet have an active sovereign

wealth fund.’ Saudi Arabia is known to be a strategic

investor that takes the long view. It prepares carefully as

it enters new fields.

These developments, however, suggest that it is the

intention of the Saudi investment authorities, similar to

their private sector counterparts, to broaden the geographic

spread of their investment portfolios. Australia, as a highly

attractive, low-risk and business-friendly environment,

appears likely to attract significant interest.

The political contextSaudi Arabia and Australia enjoy a long-standing

friendship. Australia established its first embassy in Jeddah

in 1974, and this subsequently was moved to Riyadh in

1984. Saudi Arabia established its embassy in Canberra

in 1983 with the presentation of credentials by the

Ambassador, HE Abdul Rahman Nasser Abdula Alohaly.

Australia recognises the Kingdom’s strategic importance

in the Middle East and appreciates the key role it plays

in promoting stability in the region — as well as in

international energy markets. Both countries have shared

interests in combating terrorism and extremism within the

region and across the world, and work together to promote

collective security.

As members of the Group of Twenty (G20) major

economies, Australia and Saudi Arabia consult and

cooperate on matters relating to the international financial

system. Finance ministers and central bank governors

18 | THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — AUSTRALIA: REGIONAL PARTNERS, GLOBAL LEADERS

Hon. Stephen Smith MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs

of G20 countries meet on a regular basis, and heads of

government attend G20 summits. The importance of the

G20 was recognised during the GFC in 2008, when all

member countries introduced a number of coordinated and

far-reaching measures to restore confidence and re-balance

international financial markets.

Australia is also in dialogue with the Gulf Cooperation

Council (GCC), the high-level, consultative body of the six

Arabs states of the Gulf region of which Saudi Arabia is

a key member. The other five states are Bahrain, Kuwait,

Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The

headquarters of the GCC is in Riyadh. Negotiations have

been proceeding since 2007 on a free trade agreement

(FTA) covering goods (rules of origin, government

procurement, customs procedures, technical barriers to

trade and sanitary and phytosanitary measures), services

(including cross border trade, education, movement of

natural persons, e-commerce, telecommunications and

financial services), investment, intellectual property,

competition policy, institutional and framework provisions,

as well as dispute resolution. At this time it is not possible

to estimate when the agreement will be finalised as

there are several differences of definition and approach

remaining to be resolved.

The Australian Government also maintains dialogue

with the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC),

which has its headquarters in Jeddah. The OIC is a highly

influential, collective voice of the Muslim world and has a

membership of 57 states. It is also the world's second-

largest international organisation after the United Nations.

Defence relationsAustralia and Saudi Arabia maintain close relations

between their respective defence forces. Two Australian

defence attachés are accredited to the Australian Embassy

in Riyadh and are responsible for liaison with the Saudi

Ministry of Defence with respect to defence policy issues,

training and other matters related to defence procurement,

acquisition and industry activities.

Cultural connectionsIn Australia today there are more than 360,000 people

who identify themselves as Muslim. Close to 40 per cent

of these people are Australian-born. The remainder come

from a wide range of countries, principally from the Middle

East (especially Lebanon and Turkey) and North Africa. The

numbers of Muslims resident in Australia of Saudi Arabian

origin are small, and in the main are comprised of students

and their families who intend eventually to return to home

after completing their studies.

Muslims in Australia have a special affinity with the

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as the centre of the Islamic world

and site of the Holy Cities of Makka and Medinah. The two

great pilgrimages, of the Hajj and Umrah, attract several

THE SAUDI — AUSTRALIAN RELATIONSHIP | 19

Group leaders at the G-20Summit 2010 in Seoul, South Korea. Pictured above in the top row, third from the left is Saudi Arabia's

Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, and in the middle row, third from the right the Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

thousand Australians Muslims each year. Many others

travel the same route at other times of the year, and this

type of visit is known as the Umrah, or lesser pilgrimage.

The Saudi royal family and government have been

generous to the Australian Muslim community and

supported the construction and maintenance of a large

number of mosques and schools across the country.

Sporting tiesSport is one of the strongest links between countries.

Australia has much closer relations with India, for example,

as a result of cricket, than might otherwise be the case. In

the past, sporting links between Saudi Arabia and Australia

have been relatively limited, other than through the

Olympic movement. Since 2006, however, when Australia

was accepted into the Asian Football Confederation (AFC),

the two countries have begun to meet more regularly on

the sporting pitch.

Football is one of Saudi Arabia’s major national sports,

and Saudi football teams have been amongst the most

prominent in Asian and world competition. Saudi Arabia

has won the Asian Cup on three occasions (in 1984, 1988

and 1996) and has been runner-up three other times (in

1992, 2000 and 2007). It qualified for the final rounds

of the four World Cups between 1994 and 2006, and

narrowly missed qualifying again in 2010.

In Australia football is played in a number of codes, from

Australian Rules, through Rugby League and Rugby Union.

For many years, soccer, as it was previously known, was the

junior partner. In the last few years, however, the game has

grown rapidly in popularity under the stewardship of the

Football Federation of Australia (FFA), formerly known as

Soccer Australia. The sport is now attracting much larger

audiences, especially after Australia placed 16th in the

2006 World Cup and qualified again for the Cup in 2010,

although eliminated in the first round.

Both Saudi Arabia and Australia will be represented in

the final rounds of the Asian Cup in Qatar in 2011, and

there will be many opportunities for Saudi Arabian and

Australian teams to meet on football fields in future. The

games will attract large spectator and viewing audiences in

their respective countries, thus building more people-to-

people contacts and extending sporting links.

In terms of other sports, horse racing, endurance

riding and show jumping are popular pursuits in

both countries, and will be covered in the section on

the equine trade. Camel racing is of appeal, too, and

Australian camels have raced with some success in the

20 | THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA — AUSTRALIA: REGIONAL PARTNERS, GLOBAL LEADERS

Like Australia, Saudi Arabia has

increased its development assistance

in recent years…from $US1.7 billion

in 2004 to $US5.6 billion in 2008.

region. Scuba diving, windsurfing and sailing are also

very popular in both countries.

Development assistance programsBoth Saudi Arabia and Australia have extensive bilateral

humanitarian assistance and development programs. Both

are active in international agencies, such as the various

United Nations assistance programs, the World Food

Program and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as

well as the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Saudi Arabia’s bilateral aid program has contributed

to close to 4000 projects in over 70 countries (including

over 40 African and 25 Asian countries, and five other

countries, such as Bosnia, Kosovo and Albania) since

its inception. The Saudi Development Fund (SDF) was

established in 1975 as the prime agency to deliver

development assistance through a range of instruments,

including concessional loans for in-country projects,

budgetary and policy support, as well as debt relief

programs. Like Australia, Saudi Arabia has increased its

development assistance in recent years. According to

the Development Cooperation Directorate of the OECD,

Saudi Arabia’s development assistance increased from

$US1.7 billion in 2004 to $US5.6 billion in 2008. Based on

these figures, the Kingdom’s development assistance as a

percentage of gross national income grew from 0.5 per cent

in 2005 to 1.5 per cent in 2008 — a three-fold increase.

The Australian Agency for International Development

(AusAID), established in 1974, is the Australian

Government agency responsible for managing Australia’s

overseas aid program. It operates across an arc of

countries from the Pacific Islands, through southeast

and south Asia, into the Middle East and Africa.

AusAID plans and coordinates Australia’s poverty relief

programs, development assistance, as well as responses to

humanitarian disasters previously undertaken by a range

of government departments. AusAID’s current program

for the financial year 2009–10 is valued at $A3.8 billion.

It gives priority to programs that generate employment,

develop sustainable agriculture and deliver basic services

such as healthcare and education. It is targeted to provide

assistance to the most vulnerable.

THE SAUDI — AUSTRALIAN RELATIONSHIP | 21

Hon. Simon Crean MP Mister for Trade