Shoura thanks king for fortifying Egypt ties

Riyadh: Md Rasooldeen the house said that the directive amply displayed the keenness of the king to bolster relations between the Kingdom and Egypt.

On Friday, King Abdullah directed Ambassador Ahmad Al-qattan to reopen the Kingdom’s embassy in Cairo and resume his duties on Sunday. The king’s directive also included the reopening of the two consulates in Alexandria and Suez.

Al-qattan was recalled for consultations on April 28 following demonstrations in front of the Saudi Embassy in Cairo and consulates in Alexandria and Suez that endangered the security of both Saudi and Egyptian staff. Al-faisal inaugurated a three-day forum for productive families here Saturday night and urged the public and private sectors to extend all-out support for the promotion of handicrafts and cottage industries in the country.

“I am sure these small-scale home-based industries can play a big role in boosting the national economy,” the governor told the opening session after touring an exhibition of handicrafts and cottage industries that was staged on the sidelines of the forum.

Social Affairs Minister Yousuf Al-othaimeen, who attended the opening, said his ministry has launched a training program for craftswomen, adding that the program would cost SR55 million annually. “We are coordinating with a number of charitable organizations