Leading business personalities hail new EP governor

Leading business and media personalities in the Eastern Province have welcomed the appointment of Prince Saud bin Naif as the new governor.
“We welcome him; he is not new to the region and has been the vice governor in the past,” said Saleh A. Al-Humaidan, managing director of Al-Yaum Group of Publications.
A graduate of the University of Portland, Oregon, 56-year-old Prince Saud has held many key administrative and diplomatic positions. He served as the Eastern Province vice governor from 1992 to 2003. Prince Saud is the eldest son of the late Prince Naif and elder brother of Interior Minister Mohammad bin Naif.
“We are very pleased and grateful to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman for selecting Prince Saud as the new governor,” said Al-Humaidan. “Prince Saud is loved and liked by everyone in the province.”
Asharqia Chamber Chairman Abdul Rahman Al-Rashed bade a warm farewell to outgoing Gov. Prince Mohammad bin Fahd and welcomed the new governor.
“We would like to thank Prince Mohammad for his immense contribution to the development of this region, a region that is the backbone of the Kingdom’s economy,” Al-Rashed told Arab News.
According to him, Prince Saud is fully aware of the region having seen and studied it from a very close quarter during his years here as the deputy governor.
“He has charisma, he is knowledgeable, he has all the traits that will stand him in good stead as he takes over as the new governor,” he said. “I feel delighted welcoming Prince Saud to the region.”
Al-Rashed said the Kingdom’s leadership is fully aware of the importance of the Eastern Province to the nation’s economy. “This region assumes special significance because of the natural wealth,” he said. “Most important, it hosts 50 percent of the Kingdom’s industrial investment, all this will be at the center of Prince Saud’s thoughts and outlook.”
He said Prince Saud will have the full guidance of the king and the crown prince as he gets down to manage the affairs in the region. “Since he is no stranger to the Eastern Province, I am sure he will take this region to greater heights of development,” said Al-Rashed. “We welcome him.”
Khalid Al-Abdulkarim, CEO of Al-Abdulkarim Holding Co., used a popular Arabic saying while describing it as wonderful news. “Khairu khalaf li khairu sallaf,” he said. “Which means a worthy successor to the best predecessor.”
He said Prince Saud is a skillful administrator. “He is well respected, full of wisdom and experience, he has all the skills to run this province efficiently,” said Al-Abdulkarim. “We are indeed lucky to have him as the new governor.”
Veteran journalist Saeed Haider, who saw Prince Saud in action in the late 1990s, called him a good man and excellent human being.
“He was the vice governor during the First Gulf War, and that is when we saw a lot of him,” he said. “He is very learned, has a good understanding of the region.” Haider said: “Eastern Province is indeed privileged to have him as the new governor.”