For the first time, Jeddah is hosting a summit between the Gulf Cooperation Council and the Central Asian states. Observers expect this summit to engender significant agreements and a qualitative shift in relations between these two blocs, whose geography, economy, culture, and history make them global heavyweights.
I have visited several Central Asian countries over the past three years, establishing numerous research and academic partnerships between the Rasanah Institute and several research institutions. We have also forged strong relationships with universities and academic institutions that conduct research on Middle Eastern, Arab, and regional issues.
Amid obvious global competition over this region, building new kinds of relationships with the Central Asian countries has become a pressing need for Saudi Arabia. On these visits, we sensed that the governments and people of these nations are keen on fortifying ties with the Kingdom on all fronts.
They all spoke of their trust in the Kingdom, and some of these countries are undergoing radical shifts, becoming more open to the outside world and implementing substantial political, economic, and social reforms, as well as emphasizing moderation and religious tolerance. These developments make partnerships with Gulf countries more likely to succeed than others.
I met several influential figures on my visits to these countries, and all of them stressed their nations' willingness to reinforce ties with the Kingdom. They are also determined to seize new opportunities for economic and trade cooperation with Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom has invested heavily in these countries, allocating approximately 45 billion riyals across five different sectors in Uzbekistan alone. In my opinion, there will be even greater investment opportunities in the future, both in Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries.
For this reason, Saudi businessmen and investment funds may need to make serious assessments of the markets and investment climates of those countries. Central Asian countries have fertile agricultural lands and stunning natural beauty that could make them suitable tourist destinations for Saudi tourists. They are also home to substantial natural resources that have not been exploited due to inadequate infrastructure and a lack of resources. Moreover, the Saudi market could be a suitable destination for agricultural products coming from those countries.
As is well-known, economic ties and trade can be gateways to political partnerships and approximating perspectives and stances. The fact that Saudi Arabia is absent from the cultural and intellectual scene in these countries should be seriously addressed, with historical, cultural, and intellectual stereotypical images of Saudi Arabia shared by the elites of Central Asian countries corrected to better reflect reality and dispel prejudiced ideas.
Thus, the Kingdom should think about establishing a cultural committee and an economic/commercial committee to visit those countries, holding talks and organizing workshops with their intellectual elites and business leaders. This pivotal step should be accompanied by Saudi cultural events; even if they are modest at first, such events could give rise to major opportunities for the Kingdom and help it realize the goals of Vision 2030.
Making use of Saudi Arabia's soft power, with all its tools, will be crucial for presenting an accurate picture of the Kingdom's capabilities and potential. Soft power could also help build the Kingdom's relationships with many countries by allowing them to build their view of the Kingdom on accurate information rather than the distorted image of the Kingdom aimed at tarnishing its image, aspirations, history, and culture.
