JEDDAH: Dr. Ausaf Sayeed was named India’s new ambassador to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, succeeding Ahmad Javed.
According to a statement posted by India’s Ministry of External Affairs on its website, Sayeed “is expected to take up the assignment shortly.” He just completed his tenure as India’s high commissioner to the Seychelles. He was previously India's consul general in Chicago.
Sayeed is a familiar face in Saudi Arabia. His last posting in the Kingdom was as the consul general in Jeddah from August 2004 to July 2008.
As consul general, he raised India’s profile in the Kingdom and emphasized the mutual benefits that could accrue from this bilateral relationship.
Sayeed courted the Saudi business community, focusing on business relationships and networking.
A record number of Saudi businessmen, academics, journalists and students from the Western Region visited India during his tenure.
He was responsible for enhancing the image of his country and Indian professionals through the creation of organizations such as the Saudi-Indian Business Network, the Indo-Saudi Medical Forum and the Saudi-Indian Friendship Society.
A gold medalist from Osmania University, Sayeed belongs to a Hyderabad family with rich literary credentials. His father, Awaz Sayeed, was a well-known modern Urdu short-story writer and essayist.
