3 APRIL 2016

Ø  Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Riyadh on Saturday on his maiden two-day visit to Saudi Arabia as both countries are set to firm up a raft of pacts to bolster their strategic partnership, besides exploring ways to enhance security and counter-terror cooperation. Later in the night, Mr. Modi announced a 24X7 multilingual helpline for Indian expatriates, and said a move to regularise migration was in the offing through an online programme. He announced the setting up of worker resource centres in Riyadh and Jeddah to provide them help. Addressing a gathering of L&T workers who are constructing a metro rail here, he said India was proud of their contribution which had enhanced India’s image abroad and opened doors for overseas employment opportunities for their compatriots. India’s ties with Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s leading oil producers, have been on an upswing over the past two decades based on burgeoning energy ties and both countries may look to move beyond a buyer-seller relationship in the sector and go for joint ventures and investment in refineries and oil fields.