Abdul Rahman M. Baig
JEDDAH: The Indian Business & Professional Network (IBPN) brought together business leaders, investors and professionals at the Sheraton Jeddah Hotel for a detailed discussion on the opportunities emerging from Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation under Vision 2030.
Held under the theme “Saudi Arabia: Opportunities in a Changing World,” IBPN provided a platform for experts from real estate, investment, logistics, supply chain and maritime sectors to share insights into the Kingdom’s evolving business landscape and the opportunities available to international investors and professionals.
The program was anchored by Asim Zeeshan Khan, Director of Communication, IBPN, while Azizurrab, Chairman, IBPN, delivered the opening address. He spoke about the growing economic engagement between India and Saudi Arabia and the potential for stronger business and professional cooperation between the two countries.
A key focus of the forum was the Kingdom’s rapidly developing real estate and infrastructure sector. Minhaj Basri, CEO of Basri Development discussed the scale of the Saudi real estate market, estimated at around $1.3 trillion, and the demand being generated by the Kingdom’s major development and infrastructure projects.
Eajaz Ali, CTO of MOHLA Company, highlighted the developments in premium residency and specialized residency programs, discussing their potential to attract international talent, expertise and long-term capital to the Kingdom.
The logistics and supply chain sector featured prominently in the discussions. Mohammad Farhan Kazi, Commercial Director of BAFCO International Shipping and Logistics Company Limited, and Dr. Afzal Aziz, Head of Freight Forwarding at Mosanada Logistics Services, shared perspectives on the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS) and Saudi Arabia’s efforts to strengthen its position among the world’s leading logistics hubs.
Chetan Pandey of Red Sea Gateway Terminal spoke about maritime operations and operational efficiencies at Jeddah Islamic Port, highlighting the role of port infrastructure and efficient logistics systems in supporting the Kingdom’s expanding trade and economic activity.
The presentations were followed by an interactive panel discussion featuring the participating experts and Shakkeer Hussain, CEO of Horizon Arabian. The discussion addressed practical challenges faced by businesses, including regulatory compliance, market conditions and strategies for establishing and expanding operations in Saudi Arabia.
The event was supported by the collective efforts of IBPN Executive Directors Dr. Mirza Qudrat Nawaz Baig, Qamar Sada, Rana Singh, Vijay Soni and MirGazanfar Ali Zaki, along with Event Director Zakariya Biladi.
The program concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Pradeep Sharma.
The forum underlined IBPN’s efforts to strengthen business and professional ties between the Indian and Saudi communities while helping Indian entrepreneurs and professionals gain a better understanding of opportunities emerging from Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification program.
The IBPN executive team invited Indian business leaders, professionals and entrepreneurs to join the network and participate in its business and professional initiatives, highlighting the importance of networking, knowledge sharing and collaboration in the Kingdom’s evolving economic landscape.
With Saudi Arabia advancing its Vision 2030 agenda, IBPN aims to provide a platform for meaningful business dialogue, professional engagement and closer connections between the Indian and Saudi business communities, while encouraging greater participation in the opportunities created by the Kingdom’s economic transformation.
