India should offer a more liberal visa regime for Saudi citizens and grant more multiple-entry visas, Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to India Saleh Mohammad Al-Ghamdi said Thursday.

'Our people are facing problems in getting multiple-entry and long-term visa from the Indian embassy in Riyadh. They only get single-entry visa for one month,' he said while addressing a meeting of Indian and Saudi business leaders organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) here.

'I am sure India would look into this issue and reciprocate, as getting multiple-entry visa from the Saudi embassy here for Indian businessmen is not a problem,' the envoy added.

He urged both Indian and Saudi business leaders to break new ground and achieve concrete results. 'This is the fourth business delegation from Saudi Arbaia which has visited India over the last three and a half years.'

But not much could be achieved so far, Al-Ghamdi added, hoping that the current visit of the Saudi business delegation would mark a new beginning in the field of trade and investment flows between the two countries.

Abdul Rahman Al-Rabies, leader of the Saudi business delegation, said, 'Saudis are looking forward to invest in India as well as investment from India.

'We are not competing but we have common business goals. We have complete confidence in the capability of India,' he added.

'Both the countries have undergone significant changes over the last 10 years. Things have changed and we should take advantage of the new opportunities,' Al-Rabies said.

Earlier, welcoming the delegates, R. Mandal, executive director of Srei Capital Markets, said: 'There are unlimited opportunities for Saudi investments in sectors such as infrastructure, power manufacturing among others.

'On the other hand, India can share its expertise in IT and professional and technical education,' he added.

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