Antigua and Barbuda's Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. John W. Ashe and Mr. Andullatif H. Sallam View photos»

The governments of Antigua and Barbuda and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday established formal diplomatic relations with the signing of a Protocol by their respective representatives to the United Nations.

As two friendly, peace-loving nations, today's historic step of establishing diplomatic ties will undoubtedly contribute to our mutual goal of enhancing economic ties between our countries, said Antigua and Barbuda's Ambassador to the United Nations, Dr. John W. Ashe, who signed the Protocol and the corresponding Joint Communiqué on behalf of Antigua and Barbuda.

My government welcomes this development and it looks forward to strengthening fruitful cooperation in a variety of fields between our two countries, said Abdullatif Sallam, Charge d' Affaires of the Saudi Mission to the United Nations, who signed both instruments on behalf of his government.

With this latest signing, Antigua and Barbuda has now established diplomatic relations with all six countries that make up the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Saudi Arabia, the largest GCC member, lies at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa and extends from the Red Sea in the west to the Arabian Gulf in the east. It is bordered on the north by Jordan, Iraq and Kuwait, on the south by Yemen and Oman, and on the east by the Gulf States of United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain.

Saudi Arabia's population is around 22 million, and its capital city is Riyadh. In recent years, it has been confronted with what many consider its greatest challenge: achieving modernity without surrendering its heritage, faith, or culture. The King governs with the help of the Council of Ministers, also called the Cabinet. There are 22 government ministries that are part of the Cabinet. The King is also advised by a legislative body called the Consultative Council (Majlis Al-Shura). The Council proposes new laws and amends existing ones. It consists of 150 members who are appointed by the King for four-year terms that can be renewed.

Petroleum is an integral part of the Saudi economy and the country is the world's largest producer and exporter of oil, possessing a quarter of the world's proven oil reserves. In recent decades the Kingdom has increasingly diversified its economy, and today produces and exports a variety of industrial goods all over the globe. Saudi Arabia is also developing its additional energy resources - natural gas that once flared off oil wells is collected and used, and the Kingdom has become a producer of refined oil products and petrochemicals such as kerosene, diesel oil and gasoline. In addition, with the discovery of deposits of precious and semi-precious metals, Saudi Arabia expects to become a major exporter of minerals in the coming decades.

The private sector is playing an increasingly larger role in the Saudi economy - it now accounts for 48 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP). The sector is expected to continue growing, especially as Saudi Arabia opens its doors further to foreign investment.

In December 2005, Saudi Arabia joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), a significant development that gives Saudi products greater access to global markets, creates jobs and encourages foreign investment. (Ends)