By Correspondent in Jeddah
Over 400 exhibitors, on various aspects of Hajj and Umrah services in a colourful display of their goods and services, are participating in four-day Hajj and Umrah 2023 exhibition which commencedd in Jeddah,Saudi Arabia on Monday.
The Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah,Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, in company of other stakeholders were seen inspecting the various stands of 2023 International Hajj exhibition holding in Superdome, Jeddah.
Our Correspondent reports that the exhibition, dubbed: Hajj Expo 2023, is under tight security checks due to the presence and attendance of high profile government functionaries from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as well as Very Important Personalities that graced the occasion.
The Nigerian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, Chairman/CEO of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Abubakar Hassan Nalaraba, Chairman, House Committee on Pilgrimage and some NAHCON Board members, stakeholders and staff are attending the occasion.
The Reporters gathered that the delegation also witnessed the formal opening of the exhibition by the Governor of Makkah, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal and the discussion sessions, led by Sheikh Abdur-Rahman As-sudais, the prominent Chief Imam of Makkah, amidst other stakeholders , Scholars and exhibitors all over the continents.
Earlier, the Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah,Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, in his address of welcome,justified the rationale for the holding of the International Hajj Expo in the Kingdom.
Ambassador Dada, Alhaji Hassan and Hon. Nalaraba later went round some exhibition stands and met with some major Exhibitors.
The delegation also met with Mr Mohsin Tutla, Charman, World Hajj and Umrah Convention (WHUC) and Alhaji Ahmadu Maina, Coordinator of West Africa Hajj and Umrah Convention, where issues of major concerns were discussed.
In an interview, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan said the expo could not have come at a better time than now when Information Technology and Innovation is ruling the world and determining the pace of development.
He said NAHCON under his watch would live up to the expectations to meet up with the global needs and align with the vision 2030 of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on hajj related matters.
He assured Nigerians, especially Muslim pilgrims, of excellent 2023 Hajj and Umrah services, adding that all the stakeholders had been mobilised for synergy and effective service delivery.
Other highlights of the conference include discussions on a wide range of themes relevant to the development of services for guests, logistics, transportation, crowd management operations, housing and hospitality services, catering services, visa procurement, insurance, facility and service management, safety and health care, and enriching pilgrims’ overall spiritual experiences.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
