The Saudi-European Economic Forum started here today at the Accenta 2011, and was attended by a number of specialist officials as well as managers of Saudi and Belgian companies. The first session was chaired by the Chairman of Belgian Business Association Rudy Thomas, and attended by Saudi Minister of Commerce and Industry Abdullah bin Ahmed Zainal Alireza. Thomas said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the leading and promising countries in the field of investments, as it enjoys capabilities at various levels. He also said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plays a vital and leading role in the global oil industry, adding that the Kingdom achieved a growth rate of more than 3.8 percent in 2010 which is expected to exceed 6.3 percent in 2011.