Amongst a host of global industry leaders, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair who are scheduled to attend the wedding of Akash Ambani, son of Mukesh Ambani on Saturday, all eyes will be on the visit of Saudi Oil Minister Khalid al-Falih. During his stopover in Delhi, the Saudi oil minister is likely to have some chats with Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, sources. Al-Falih last visited India on February 20 as part of the high-level delegation that traveled with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a bilateral visit.
It ought to be noted that Saudi Arabia is India’s second-largest oil supplier and it has also pledged to invest USD 100 billion in India’s energy sector. Saudi Aramco, the world’s biggest oil company, and its partner Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC) have picked up 50 per cent stake in a planned USD 44-billion refinery in Maharashtra. Interestingly, the meeting between Saudi Arabia’s al-Falih and India’s Union Petroleum Minister Pradhan will take place less than two months before the US waivers for Iranian oil customers to continue importing oil from Iran at reduced volumes expires. Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel-Al Jubeir is also arriving New Delhi on Monday to meet with Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj. “Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs will visit India on Monday and will meet External Affairs Minister. My understanding is he is visiting to discuss some important follow ups from the recent visit of Saudi Crown prince,” MEA spokesman Raveesh Kumar told reporters here. India has rejected suggestions that any country will actually negotiate peace between India and Pakistan. (UNI)
Saudi Oil Minister on a private visit, likely to talk to Dharmendra Pradhan: Sources
