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November 3, 2006 |
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THE CROWN PRINCE IN A CABLE OF REPLY TO PRINCE NAIF SALUTES THE SECURITY MEN AND LAUDS THEIR TIRELESS EFFORTS IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR RELIGION, THE KING AND COUNTRY. THE SHOURA COUNCIL COMMENDS THE NEW ALLEGIANCE LAW. MINISTER AL-GOSAIBI STRESSES THAT LIMITING THE NUMBER OF EXPATRIATES AIMS AT PRESERVING THE POPULATION STRUCTURE. SAUDI ARABIA OFFERS TAX INCENTIVES TO INVESTORS IN DIFFERENT AREAS. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz patronized the inauguration ceremony of the international medical centre. The ceremony was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General. Upon arrival at the venue, the Monarch was received by Prince Mishaal Bin Majed Bin Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Jeddah; Dr. Hamad Bin Abdullah Al-Manie, The Minister of Health and a number of senior officials. Pressing a button marking the inauguration, the Monarch said that the center will be in the service of humanity, the people of Saudi Arabia and all the Muslim world, praying to Almighty Allah to bless this edifice and its founder. A speech ceremony was held on this occasion. Following the speech ceremony, the Monarch and the Crown Prince received shields on this occasion from Ahmad Hassan Fitaihi, representative of the center's founders. The king commended the efforts of businessmen and doctors in the kingdom, saying they believe in Allah, the homeland and humanity. The Monarch thanked all those working in this medical edifice and designers of the project, wishing them all success. In his speech, Dr. Hamad Bin Abdullah Al-Manie, the Minister of Health said that the government under the leadership of the king has been providing all support for the private health sector. He noted that the private sector has contributed nearly 17 percent of gross health services in the kingdom, pointing out that this sector includes 113 hospitals, 11,135 beds, 1043 dispensaries, 404 clinics and 15,254 doctors. On his part, the center's Executive President Dr. Walid Ahmad Hassan Fitaihi said that the center's cost amounted to more than sr. 500 million and provides at least 1000 job opportunities. The inaugural ceremony was attended by a number of princes and senior officials. The new medical center is said to have a capacity of 3,000 beds and will specialize in various medical fields. The center is being opened with the cooperation of the Cleveland Clinic in the United States. Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie said that the private sector is very important and is instrumental in supporting the government-run health care system by providing advanced medical services. Al-Manie added that the ministry is paying attention to the private sector by providing them with all sorts of facilities to encourage investment. "The attendance of custodian of the two holy mosques at the opening of this center shows King Abdullah is a big supporter of the private sector," he said. Dr. Khaled Marghalani, a Health Ministry spokesman, said private hospitals make up 31 percent of the total number of hospitals in the Kingdom. He added that there are 113 private hospitals that provide 11,135 beds. There are 13,788 doctors, 2,466 dentists, 5,370 pharmacists and 17,810 nurses employed in the private sector. Marghalani said that the International Medical Center has shown a strong sense of devotion by joining the internationally known Cleveland Clinic, a leading hospital in heart surgery, pediatrics and bone surgery. The new center, located on Hail Street, cost half a billion riyals to build. In attendance at the opening of the beautifully-designed SR500 million private hospital in Jeddah's upscale Ruwais district were Cabinet ministers, diplomats, foreign dignitaries, civic officials, businessmen and prominent residents of the city. King Abdullah commended the private sector for what he described as its tremendous contribution to the health sector. The king thanked all those associated with the high-tech hospital. "I wish them every success," he said. Underlining the efforts of Saudi businessmen and doctors in carrying out huge medical projects in the Kingdom, King Abdullah said: "This reflects their strong faith in God, their nation and humanity. These efforts are not at all surprising, coming as they are from the sons of Saudi Arabia." Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie reiterated the government's support for such health projects. The new hospital, he said, would provide high quality medical services of international standard. The young and ebullient Dr. Walid Fitaihi, the chief executive officer and the main force behind the hospital, the first-of-its-kind in Saudi Arabia, was the cynosure of all eyes. "It is a dream come true," an elated Dr. Fitaihi told reporters later. "It took seven long years for it to materialize. Though the planning took a lot of time, the actual construction took just about three years," he said. "We think of ourselves as a paradigm shift in health care delivery in terms of standards," he said, adding "We want this to be a place that people know, trust and feel comfortable in as patients." "This is why we teamed up with the Cleveland Clinic which is known worldwide for its history, ethics and its leadership in all specialties of medicine, especially heart surgery." Cleveland Clinic is ranked as one of the top three hospitals in the US. The IMC-Cleveland Clinic partnership includes know-how, policy, procedures, expertise, training, telemedicine, referrals and second opinions. "It is a unique partnership and one key advantage of working with the foundation is that qualified physicians who had their training in the US can become clinical affiliates for Cleveland Clinic and can apply for research grants there under the partnership umbrella," Dr. Fitaihi added. Dr. Delos M. Cosgrove, the chief executive officer of Cleveland Clinic and a very well-known cardiac surgeon, said he was proud of the prestigious American hospital's association with the IMC. "These are mission-driven people," he said, referring to Dr. Fitaihi and his team of doctors. "We are very careful with who we are associated with," he said. "We have had offers from nearly 25 countries to partner with. This is going to be the biggest partnership in the Middle East," Dr. Cosgrove pointed out. Dr. Cosgrove, who has performed over 20,000 surgical procedures and has become a world-renowned expert in the field of heart valve repair, said it was important to point out that most of the doctors at the IMC have worked at Cleveland Clinic. "So they have a good idea about the efforts that go into becoming the best medical facility in the world. These are talented people and IMC will become the best facility too," he said. "A successful project," Dr. Cosgrove said, "is a combination of two things: physical structure and human beings. We have a wonderful structure at IMC complete with the most modern facilities and also individuals with very high credentials. Remember, great physicians and great scientists make great hospitals." About the key role teleconferencing and telecommunications are playing in the world of medicine, Dr. Cosgrove said: "I always believed that learning should go to doctors rather than doctors going to learning. Thanks to modern innovations, physical distances don't mean much. It is pretty easy to disseminate information in a matter of minutes. With teleconferencing you can direct an operation hundreds of miles away. At IMC, this technology is going to be widely used." According to Dr. Fitaihi, the challenge has just begun. "Now comes the real work. We want to deliver all that we have promised. I am confident and my confidence stems from the excellent team of doctors and experts that we have at the center. I want every patient to leave our hospital completely healed and smiling. I want to see them smile," he said. Dr. Fitaihi praised all the individuals who invested in the project even before the building was erected. "All the investors knew what it meant to add value to society, so their main objective was never to maximize profits but to be proud of their investment," Dr. Fitaihi said, adding: "They (the investors) were involved in all stages of the project." The facility, which cost more than SR500 million, includes a pharmacy, rehabilitation center, health clubs, an auditorium, learning centers for patient use, and a cafeteria. There are many centers of excellence: diabetes treatment and management, women's health and pediatrics. Ever since the hospital building was first erected, it has been the talk of the town. It has been rightly described as an architectural wonder and a prominent landmark. "It is beautiful, functional, with attention to detail, service and quality... It creates an atmosphere of dignity, beauty and regality," said one guest. The building was designed by one of the Arab world's leading architects, Dr. Sami Angawi. He was on hand to explain the concept of the building's design. "This is not just a building. It is a dream," said Dr. Angawi. "Architects are like interpreters of dreams. We try to give shape to our dreams. The message behind this wonderful structure is to convey the beauty of our Islamic heritage. We have tried to fuse modern technology with traditional Islamic design in order to convey a sense of continuity and a sense of our pride in our heritage," he said. "Today, I am giving my dream away to other people." On the other hand the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has received at the royal court at Al Salam palace in Jeddah princes, ministers, senior protocol officials, senior commanders and officers of the royal guard and a group of citizens who came to greet him and congratulate him on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr. The king also received a delegation of the people of Al-Gunfuza province who came to greet him on the same occasion. He accepted an invitation to visit Al-Gunfuza province. Later, the king received a delegation of mayors of Jeddah province who greeted him on the holy Eid. The king thanked his guests for the visits, wishing them good time. The audiences were attended by Prince Fahd Bin Mohammed Bin Abdul Aziz; Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior; Prince Faisal Bin Turki Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud; Prince Bander Bin Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz; Prince Abdullah Bin Turki Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud; Prince Abdullah Bin Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz ; Prince Dr. Bander Bin Salman Bin Mohammed Al Saud, Advisor To The King; Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz, minister of state, member of the Cabinet and Chief of the Court of the Cabinet's Presidency. Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General has expressed his appreciation for the heartfelt feelings spelled out by Prince Naif Ibn Abdul Aziz, the Interior Minister, in his cable of congratulations to him on behalf of the personnel of the interior ministry on the occasion of Eid-Al-Fitr. In his cable of reply, the Crown Prince saluted the security men and lauded their tireless efforts in the service of their religion, the king and country. In his cable to the Crown Prince, Prince Naif highlighted the significant role played by the security men to enable Umrah (minor Hajj) performers to perform their rituals in comfort and ease. He noted that the performers of Umrah during the blessed month of Ramadan had exceeded three million. The number of Umrah performers who came from abroad rose by 20 percent compared to their number last year. Meanwhile the 150-member Shoura Council commended the new Allegiance Law issued by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah as one of the king's major political reforms. "The new law will strengthen political stability, ensure national unity and provide a big boost to comprehensive development," the Shoura said in a statement after a regular meeting in Riyadh. The law reflected the desire of Saudi leadership to reinforce the basis of national progress, realize the hopes and aspirations of its people and preserve the Kingdom's strength, the Shoura said. "It also protects the Kingdom's international reputation and ensures its progress and prosperity," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the consultative council as saying. This is the Shoura's first reaction to the law, which was issued on Oct. 20. The law aims at streamlining succession, facilitating smooth transfer of power and removing the uncertainty caused by the inability of a king or crown prince to run the affairs of the state as a result of poor health. "This law is an important development in organizing the government in accordance with the state's solid principles," the Shoura statement said, adding that it goes in tune with modern developments. The Shoura said the new law was complementary to the existing laws such as the Basic Law of Governance, the Shoura System, the Regional Council System and the Council of Ministers System. Saudi Arabia has not faced any succession problem in its history as it took place automatically thanks to the understanding among the royal family members, based on mutual respect. "The new law ensures continuation of this smooth succession process and protection of the royal family and the national entity. It also shows the ability of the leadership in dealing with such sensitive issues with transparency," it added. Shoura Chairman Dr. Saleh Bin-Humaid said all members of the consultative body had welcomed the law as a significant political reform introduced by the king. Under the law a committee of senior princes would be appointed to select future generations of kings and crown princes. The law offers a new mechanism for declaring the reigning monarch or heir to the throne unfit to exercise their powers, temporarily or permanently. It will not be applied to the present king and crown prince. The new high-power committee, named the Allegiance Commission, will comprise the sons and grandsons of King Abdul Aziz, the founder of the Kingdom, the Royal Court said in a statement. The commission was formed by changing Article Five of the Basic Law of Governance. Meantime the with new rule liberalizing the transfer of sponsorship multinational companies hope that it will make it easier for them to recruit skilled manpower as thousands of job opportunities will be created in the health care, IT and construction sectors in different parts of the Kingdom. Labor Minister Dr. Ghazi Al-Gosaibi had issued a decision liberalizing transfer of sponsorship by expatriate workers. According to the decision, which came into effect on Oct. 28, a worker should complete at least one year with his present employer to avail of the new facility. Minister al-gosaibi also stressed that limiting the number of expatriates aims at preserving the population structure. Some workers are exempted from the one-year condition. They include those who were working for a company that was sold and workers of contracting companies that lose their government contracts. Workers whose sponsors have died and whose heirs do not want to continue the business of their fathers as well as workers of companies that have been closed or declared bankrupt are also exempted. The one-year condition will not be applied to employees of a subcontractor who wanted to work for the main contractor; the Saudi Press Agency said quoting the ministerial decision. The ministry will allow such transfers from one sponsor to another only after making sure the latter needed their services. In certain educational, medical and agricultural jobs, the workers should get permission from relevant government authorities. Expatriates are not allowed to apply for jobs restricted to Saudis and the firms recruiting them should have fulfilled the necessary Saudization conditions. "The new decision was taken to tackle some negative aspects regarding employment of expatriates as some of them work for employers other than their sponsors within days after their arrival," said Ahmed Al-Zamil, deputy labour minister for labour affairs. The new decision will help companies make use of skilled foreign manpower available in the Kingdom. Many foreign investors have complained about lack of manpower to launch their projects. There are about seven million expatriate workers in the Kingdom. Three economic cities in Rabigh, Madinah and Hail alone are expected to draw in more than SR155 billion ($41.3 billion) in investments and create nearly 100,000 jobs. The major beneficiaries of the booming employment market in the health care sector will be nurses a profession shunned by Saudi women due to the stigma attached. On the other hand Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah will sponsor the first Global Competitiveness Forum Series in Riyadh on Nov. 8. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates will be the keynote speaker. Gates is well known as a technological wizard and the world's richest man with a net worth of some $53 billion. Addressing a press conference, Amr Abdullah Dabbagh, governor of the Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), said Gates would speak on "The Role and Impact of ICT (Information and Communication Technology) in Enabling the Economy and Related Challenges for Saudi Arabia." Dr. Khaled Al-Dhaher, general manager of Microsoft Saudi Arabia, was also present. The SAGIA governor paid tributes to King Abdullah for his initiative in organizing the forum that seeks to enhance the Kingdom's economic competitiveness by promoting partnership between public and private enterprises. Al-Dabbagh said the event would bring together global leaders and thinkers as well as IT and economic experts and translate their ideas and visions into a new formula to transform the economic environment in the Kingdom into a magnet for domestic and overseas investors. The governor said the Competitiveness Forum was one of the tools developed by SAGIA under the 10x10 program that targets putting Saudi Arabia among the ten globally competitive investment destinations by 2010. Currently, about three percent of all foreign direct investment (FDI) goes to the Arab world. The region's share in global trade has shrunk by almost 35 percent since 1980 to just three percent. Referring to the upcoming event, Al-Dabbagh said: "The ICT sector has been chosen as the first theme of the 1st Global Competitiveness Forum because of its vibrant impact on the economic productivity and competitiveness. ICT is by all means a promising sector and has a wide market that has big potential for developing a knowledge-based economy in Saudi Arabia." In reply to a question on attracting investment in less developed areas, the governor said they were working in two directions. One is building economic cities to provide total solutions through investment to develop the infrastructure, improve the lifestyle of people by adding various components to the economic development program, such as setting up recreation, education and health care facilities as well as establishing industrial estates, etc. "Most of our economic cities are located in areas that lack infrastructure. In Rabigh, where the King Abdullah Economic City has been launched, Emaar will develop the whole infrastructure and provide an attractive environment for local and foreign direct investment." Second is to provide for incentives to investors, he said. "We have reached an agreement with the Ministry of Finance to give tax credit to less developed regions in Hail, Jizan, etc. This will be a major attraction for diverting investments to the less developed regions. Also, we have agreed with the Saudi Industrial Development Fund (SIDF) to double the grace period for loan repayment to projects in those regions." Informed sources said there would be three types of tax credit available to investors. They will be entitled to a tax break on the value of their investment in the region, on the wage bill of their Saudi employees, and on the amount invested in training programs. Thus investment in the less developed regions will be an attractive proposition for investors. Speaking on behalf of Microsoft, Dr. Khaled Al-Dhaher said: "Microsoft is committed to developing ICT and putting Saudi Arabia among the top countries benefiting from this dynamic sector. We are working on initiatives that lay the foundation for a healthy knowledge-based economy for the benefit of our country and people." He said Bill Gates' keynote address at the forum would reflect the joint vision of Microsoft and SAGIA to make the Kingdom one of the top 10 global destinations for competitive investments. "It is not only an economic option, but also a strategic demand we all should try to address," he observed. Asked about Gates' program, Al-Dhaher said he would have a full agenda during his one-day visit. He will meet with top representatives of both government and private-sector organizations and harness the synergy into building up the Kingdom's competitive environment. In reply to a question on what Microsoft is doing to assist small and medium enterprises (SMEs), Al-Dhaher said they had a strategy. The starting point is to understand their needs and capabilities. "Only then can we provide our technology based on their needs. For this, we have created a special department to help us understand their needs. The second component of our strategy is Industry Certification for SMEs. Such a program will be launched soon," he added. |
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