PM Browne meets Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister for important talks

Prime Minister the Honourable Gaston Browne continues his packed agenda of
engagements while he is in New York for the 78 th meeting of the United Nations
General Assembly.
The prime minister has reported that one such meeting was held Thursday in the
margins of the General Assembly with the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisalbin
Farhan during which they discussed a range of issues.
“I am pleased to report that I had very good bilateral talks with Saudi Foreign
Minister and the Minister of Tourism on deepening corporation in investment and
trade. As a consequence, I will travel to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in mid-
October to hold more detailed discussions. These follow-up discussions are to
focus largely on exploring opportunities for investments into Antigua and Barbuda
in the critical area of tourism,” PM Browne stated.
Antigua and Barbuda and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are developing closer ties
especially in light of the Saudi commitment to assist with the country’s educational
infrastructure. The Saudi Development Fund has approved a loan for US$80
million to upgrade the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus.
“That expansion will include additional lecture theatres and dorms primarily for
foreign students. It is expected that the campus will expand to 5000 students,
contributing up to five percent of GDP,” PM Browne explained.
Work on this transformative project will start in the first quarter of next year. As
the funds have been approved and allocated.