November 10, 2006

THE CUSTODIAN OF THE TWO HOLY MOSQUES ANNOUNCES THE ESTABLISHMENT OF JAZAN ECONOMIC CITY WHICH WILL ATTRACT MORE THAN SR 100 BILLION IN INVESTMENT AND CREATE SOME 500,000 NEW JOBS. SR 375 MILLION FROM THE JOINT STOCK COMPANY TO BE FORMED FOR DEVELOPING THE CITY WILL BE ALLOCATED AS FREE SHARES TO THE PEOPLE OF LIMITED INCOME IN THE REGION. SR 900 MILLION FOR THE FOUNDATION OF JAZAN UNIVERSITY. THE LAUNCH OF DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS IN THE FIELDS OF HEALTH, AGRICULTURE, EDUCATION, TRAINING AND MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS. THE LAUNCH OF THE FIRST PHASE OF AL DAIHAMA PROGRAM AND THE OFFERING OF 80 MILLION M2 TO THE CITIZENS IN JAZA. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz arrived in Jazan region coming from Asir region to meet citizens, lay the foundation stones and inaugurate a number of important developmental projects within the framework of his inspection tour of all regions of the kingdom. At King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz regional airport, he was received by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, other princes, senior officials and citizens. King Abdullah was accompanied by a number of princes, ministers and senior officials. Earlier in the day, the king left Asir region and was seen off by a number of princes, ministers, senior officials and citizens. Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Defense and Aviation Minister and Inspector General, arrived in Jazan coming from Abha. At King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz airport, he was received by Prince Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Abdul Aziz, the governor of Jazan region; Prince Turki Bin Nasser Bin Abdul Aziz, General President Of Meteorology And Environment protection; a number of princes and senior officials. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz graced the grand party held in his honor by the people of Jazan region to mark his historic visit to the region. the event was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, and Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammed.. Upon arrival at the venue, the king was received by Prince Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Abdul Aziz, Governor of Jazan region, other princes, and senior officials. He was also greeted by jubilant people who gathered in big numbers at the sports stadium in Jazan, chanting and singing to mark the visit of the monarch to their region. Meanwhile, King Abdullah was saluting them with his both hands, wishing them every prosperity and progress. Addressing the gathering, the governor of the region Prince Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Abdul Aziz Termed the visit to the 13-province region as historic and definitely augurs well. He cited the increase of salaries, enforcement of social insurance, reduction of fuel prices, establishment of free residential homes for the low-income people and set up of funds for prisoners and the poor. Then Dr. Ibrahim Bin Yahya Otaif, the chief of the branch of the investigations and general prosecution panel in Jazan region, delivered a speech on behalf of the people of the region, praising the king's care for Jazan as part of the kingdom. Addressing the jubilant gathering, King Abdullah told the people of the region that development march in Jazan region should make wide paces to compensate the delay of the past which took place with nobody to blame. The King announced the establishment of Jazan economic city and the appropriation of SR 375 million as free stocks offered by the holding company. He said the project is expected to attract more than sr100 billion and create nearly half a million jobs directly or indirectly. Orders have been issued to the ministry of petroleum and mineral resources to conduct a feasibility study to set up an oil refinery in Jazan region, the king announced. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz patronized the inauguration ceremony of a number of development and service projects in Jazan region. The ceremony was attended by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General. The projects belong to the ministries of municipal and rural affairs; labor (General Organization of Technical Education and Vocational Training); higher education (Jazan university); education; agriculture; health; and water and electricity. Upon arrival at the venue, King Abdullah was received by Prince Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Abdul Aziz, the governor of Jazan region. Then King Abdullah toured an accompanying exhibition and was briefed on the development of various sectors and new projects in Jazan region. A speech ceremony was held on this occasion. In his speech, Prince Miteb Bin Abdul Aziz, the Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs said that the king will inaugurate 112 projects of the ministry at a cost of SR 5.232 billion. He said that the king approved the setting up of a new suburb in an area of 80 million square meters in Jazan city which includes more than 40,000 residential pieces to be distributed to citizens and the allocation of SR 1.175 billion for the suburb's infrastructure. He asked the king to call it ''King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Residential Suburb''. Then the monarch inaugurated the municipal projects. Then the king gave permission to launch 20 training projects and to unveil a memorial plaque for inauguration of technological college facilities and two vocational training institutes of the ministry of labor at a cost of more than SR 1 billion; to lay foundation stone of Jazan university at a cost of more than SR 900 million (first phase); to inaugurate projects of ministry of agriculture and two projects belonging to Arab shrimps company and Jazan company for development; to inaugurate and lay foundation stone of a number of health ministry's projects at a cost of more than SR 1.2 billion; to lay foundation stone and inaugurate projects of ministry of water and electricity; and to lay foundation stone of projects of the ministry of education at a cost of SR 1.160 billion. Shedding light on the new projects, speeches were delivered by minister of labor and chairman of board of directors of general organization of technical education and vocational training Dr. Ghazi Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Qusaibi; Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khaled Bin Mohammed Al-Anqari; Minister of Agriculture Dr. Fahd Bin Abdul Rahman Balghunaim; Minister of Health Dr. Hamad Bin Abdullah Al-Manie; Minister of Water and Electricity Eng. Abdullah Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Hussein; and Minister of Education Dr. Abdullah Bin Saleh Al-Obaid. The ceremony was attended by a number of princes, ministers and senior officials. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz laid the foundation stone for the project of Jazan economic city. The king, then, watched a replica for aluminum smelter plant. He also laid the foundation stone for an iron factory. On the other hand, the king was briefed on tourism resorts in Jazan region by Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, the Secretary General of the Higher Tourism Commission. Later, the king graced a dinner party hosted in his honor by citizens of Jazan region. The party was attended by Prince Abdul Rahman Bin Abdul Aziz, The Deputy Defense And Aviation Minister, Prince Miteb Bin Abdul Aziz, The Minister Of Municipal And Rural Affairs, other princes and senior officials. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah announced plans to establish a SR100 billion economic city in Jizan. "We have also instructed the Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals to study the prospects of establishing an oil refinery in Jazan," the Saudi Press Agency quoted the king as saying. Addressing a popular reception organized by the people of Jazan, the king said the new economic city would attract more than SR100 billion in investment and create some 500,000 new jobs. He said SR375 million from the joint stock company to be formed for developing the city would be allocated as free shares to the people of limited income in the region. King Abdullah emphasized the government's determination to boost Jazan's development by extending special care to the region. "We don't differentiate between regions and citizens," he said. In his welcome address, Jazan Gov. Prince Muhammad Bin Nasser underscored the king's efforts for the welfare and prosperity of citizens. "Your sons in Jazan are looking forward to more welfare projects in the region," he said. Prince Muhammad said the king had agreed to transform Al-Rifae homes in Fursan and their surrounding areas into a cultural center with a public library. Poet Ibrahim Miftah welcomed the idea and said it is a gift from the king to the people of Fursan, which is known as the island of poets. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah laid the foundation for Jizan Economic City (JEC) after announcing plans to establish a city designed to attract more than SR100 billion in investment. Malaysian company MMC and Saudi Binladin Group are leading partners in the Kingdom's fourth economic city project which is set to usher in a new era in Jazan's development. The city will have a port, an industrial zone, a logistic service center, an energy/desalination plant and a residential zone. Many international companies have already shown their interest in investing in the city. According to informed sources at Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority (SAGIA), the main facilitator of the project, three giant factories will be established at a cost of SR15 billion by Chinese firms. King Abdullah, who was on his first visit to Jizan since ascending the throne in August 2005, announced plans to establish the city while attending a popular reception held in his honor by the people of the region. The king said JEC would attract more than SR100 billion in investment and create some 500,000 new jobs. He also said that SR375 million worth of free shares in the SR15 billion JEC company would be allocated to the region's limited income people. He also disclosed plans to establish an oil refinery in Jazan. The Ministry of Petroleum and Minerals has been instructed to conduct a feasibility study on the refinery project. The new economic city will be located about 50 km north of Jazan city and will spread over an area of 100 million square meters. About 12 km of this land is situated close to Jazan coast while eight kilometers are inland. "JEC will focus on heavy industries that require intense use of energy, which is readily available in the Kingdom," SAGIA said in a statement. Jazan is located in a strategic position close to international maritime routes in the Red Sea as well as the Indian Ocean. "This will facilitate marketing of JEC products in Asia, Africa and Europe," the statement said. The city will also have secondary industries related to agriculture and fisheries and a full-fledged research center to support them. A regional center for the distribution of iron ore will also be established. The developers will bear all the cost for building the city's required infrastructure. MMC is one of the largest companies in Malaysia specializing in engineering, construction, mining, transportation, logistic services, energy and power generation. It owns and manages the main ports in Malaysia. Saudi Binladin Group has built several industrial and residential cities around the world. It employs more than 55,000 people. SAGIA chief Amr Dabbagh said the king's announcement concerning JEC and his support for the project were in line with the government's strategy to achieve balanced development in all regions. He said JEC would focus on industries that needed more manpower. There will be advanced centers to train the people of the region. King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, who was on the last leg of his tour of the south, yesterday received prominent Islamic scholars and senior civilian and military officers in Jizan. He later distributed deeds and keys for 372 low-cost houses built in Daheema village to deserving people. The King Abdullah Charitable Housing Foundation carried out the project at a cost of SR100 million which includes mosques, schools, health, social and cultural centers and public utility facilities. Later in the day, King Abdullah launched a number of welfare projects in Jazan including the first phase of Jazan University campus. An exhibition of the models of projects to be implemented in JEC is being held at King Faisal Sports City. The king has instructed officials to continue the exhibition for two weeks in order for the people of Jazan to become familiar with the projects and plans for the city. Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz received in the presence of Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, scholars, sheikhs, senior civil and military officials, and a group of citizens who came to greet him and congratulate him on safe arrival in Jazan region. Then he was briefed by Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, Secretary General Of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Foundation for his parents for developmental housing, on the activities of the foundation in the village of Al Daihama, Samta province, in Jazan region. Addressing the gathering, the secretary general of the foundation said today's event is a dedication of phase one of Al Daihama project, describing it as the biggest charitable project implemented by the foundation. He recalled that King Abdullah has paid great attention to the right of citizens in obtaining private homes, noting that he ordered the increase of appropriations for popular housing to sr10 billion in the budget surplus this year. He said the housing project's phase one includes 372 houses at a cost of sr100 million including primary utilities like mosques, schools, health care centers, social and cultural centers, training centers and basic services like water, electricity, telephone, drainage system, roads and electrification. He said these houses are completely furnished, describing Al Daihama developmental housing project a nuclear of a modern city. Then King Abdullah inaugurated the project's phase one, handing over ownership documents and home keys to a sample of beneficiaries. Then the foundation's Deputy Secretary General Iyad Bin Ameen Madani offered the King with a gift to mark the occasion. The attendees then had lunch with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz. The reception and the documents handing over ceremony were attended by Prince Abdul Rahman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; Prince Mit'eb Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal And Rural Affairs; Prince Bandar Bin Mohammed Bin Abdul Rahman; Prince Faisal Bin Turki Bin Abdullah Al Saud; Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior; Prince Faisal Bin Turki Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud; Prince Bandar Bin Khalid Bin Abdul Aziz; Prince Abdul-Ilah Bin Abdul Aziz; Prince Abdullah Bin Musaed Bin Abdul Rahman; Prince Khalid Bin Fahd Bin Khalid; Prince Miqren Bin Abdul Aziz, Chief of General Intelligence; Prince Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Abdul Aziz, governor of Jazan region, other princes and ministers. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz has received at his residence in Jazan the Chairman and members of the municipal council of Jazan region. The delegation was co-led by Eng. Mohammed Abdullah Omer Al-Attas, Chairman of The Council And Eng. Abdul Aziz Ibrahim Al-Toob, mayor of Jazan region. During the audience, they thanked the monarch for visiting the region and opening and laying the foundation stones of a number of vital developmental projects, more than the region's municipal council or ordinary citizens were expecting. Establishing a giant economic city in Jazan which will create at least 500,000 new jobs directly or indirectly and setting a new university, international airport, and advanced sea port, gave the visit a stunning glitter and shine, the delegation leaders were quoted as saying. similar remarks were given to the Saudi Press Agency by the region's Governor Prince Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Abdul Aziz who forwarded thanks in his own name and on behalf of the region's people to the monarch for making an historical inspection visit to Jazan region within a tour which also took him to Najran and Assir regions. The Custodian Of The Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz arrived in Riyadh coming from Jazan region after an inspection tour of regions of Najran, Assir and Jazan during which the monarch inspected the situations of citizens, inaugurated and laid foundation stones of a number of developmental projects. At King Khalid International Airport, the Monarch was received by Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General; a number of princes; ministers; senior officials and groups of citizens. The king was accompanied by a number of princes, ministers and senior officials. Earlier, King Abdullah left Jazan Region. At King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz regional airport, the king was seen off by Prince Mohammed Bin Nasser Bin Abdul Aziz, the Governor of Jazan region; other princes; senior officials and groups of citizens. Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, left Jazan region. At the airport, he was seen off by a number of princes and senior officials. Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier, Minister of Defense and Aviation and Inspector General, arrived in Riyadh coming from Jazan region. At the airport, he was received by a number of princes, ministers and senior officials. The Crown Prince was accompanied by a number of princes.