Crown Prince Abdullah rallies the troops

07 December 2001

Crown Prince Abdullah on 3 December issued a rallying cry to the kingdom's businessmen amid a stormy economic climate and what he called 'deliberate and unfair' foreign media attacks. Speaking at a reception in Riyadh, he reassured a group of businessmen that the government would continue to encourage investment and asked for their assistance in projecting a positive image of the kingdom.

Public opinion in the kingdom has been incensed by a string of articles in the US press criticising Saudi Arabia for its role in the international coalition that emerged after 11 September. Some newspapers have alleged that the kingdom is lukewarm in its support for the war against terrorism, damaging its reputation in the West. 'By now you are aware of the situation and the deliberate and malicious campaign against your country,' said Crown Prince Abdullah. 'You have a duty to explain to those you know the real situation in your country.'

Attempts to attract foreign investment into the kingdom are also to be renewed in the face of the global economic downturn and the perceived political volatility of the Middle East. 'Be assured that, God willing, your government will continue to boost and facilitate investment,' said Crown Prince Abdullah.

A MEED Subscription...

Subscribe or upgrade your current MEED.com package to support your strategic planning with the MENA region’s best source of business information. Proceed to our online shop below to find out more about the features in each package.