Minister Al-Naimi receives honorary doctorate from AGH University of Science and Technology
Wednesday June 8, 2011
Krakow, Poland - His Excellency Ali Ibn Ibrahim Al-Naimi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, and Chairman of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Board of Trustees, has been awarded with an honorary doctorate from Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza University of Science and Technology (AGH-UST).
Professor Antoni Tajduśm, AGH-UST Rector, presented Minister Al-Naimi with the prestigious Doctor Honoris Causa award at a ceremony held in the Minister's honor earlier this month at the institution's campus in Krakow, Poland.
AGH-UST Doctor Honoris Causa degrees are granted to iconic pioneers in science, economy, culture and politics. The award recognizes the Minister's efforts in meeting the ever-growing demand for oil and petroleum production, for actively seeking the exploitation of hydrocarbon resources and for satisfying global energy needs.
Professor Tajduśm explained that the degree also pays tribute to Minister Al-Naimi's "illustrious record and brilliant professional career."
The ceremony was attended by Waldemar Pawlak, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland and Minister of Economy, Jacek Majchrowski, Mayor of Krakow City Council, Walid Bin Tahir Ridwan, Saudi Ambassador to Poland, and Majid Ibn Ali Al-Shammary, Saudi Deputy Ambassador to Poland, as well as a selection of international ambassadors, Polish government officials and members of AGH-UST's senior leadership.
In his acceptance speech, Minister Al-Naimi, expressed great pride in receiving the degree. He explained that future relations between Saudi Arabia and Poland are linked by three main elements: education, energy and the environment.
The Minster said: "On behalf of the people of Saudi Arabia, I am gratified to receive an honorary doctorate from this fine institution. It is most meaningful that this honor speaks to closer cultural, scientific and academic links between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Poland."
"Human ingenuity is more precious than any other resource; scientific and technological advances through the ages have relied upon the knowledge, skills and aspirations of people who create and use these tools. Both AGH and KAUST work to attract, develop and graduate the world's top talent – we are both well aware of the urgency in competing for the brightest minds."
The Minister explained that there was already a "good early Polish representation at KAUST". Currently the University is host to three Polish Ph.D. students.
He added: "The many independent achievements by Poland and Saudi Arabia, both historic and contemporary, prove how science and technology, in the hands of visionary men and women, have been able to transform the industrial world time and again. Given the separate successes and common aims of our nations, I believe that cooperation in academic and industrial research can accelerate our progress. "
Poland's Deputy Prime Minister, Waldemar Pawlak, described the award as an expression of gratitude to celebrate a "skillful administrator and gifted engineer."
He said: "Minister Al-Naimi is a man of importance and influence at international level and, a truly skillful speaker on political and energy issues."
Professor Andrzej Gonet, AGH-UST Dean of Drilling, Oil and Gas, praised Minister Al-Naimi's keen interest in the academic exchange between KAUST and AGH-UST.
He explained that the idea to honor Minister Al-Nami came from the Poland's Ministry of Economy. The nomination was upheld and seconded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was unanimously endorsed by the AGH-UST Higher Academic Council in April 2010.
Professor Frashi Windjefkah, Dean of Chemistry, University of Wroclaw, also lauded Minister Al-Naimi for utilizing Solar Energy in Saudi Arabia and for his tireless pursuit of prospective energy sources.
During his visit to Poland, the Minister also held meetings with the Deputy PM focusing on Saudi-Polish relations. The discussions centered on the economic and the scientific exchange between the two countries.
Minister Al-Naimi is one of Saudi Arabia's and Saudi Aramco's success stories. Starting off as a young man with Aramco in 1957 as a junior employee, Minister Al-Nami worked his way through the ranks of the company for nearly 30 years, becoming its first Saudi President in 1984 and, later CEO in 1988. In 1995 he was appointed Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.