Members of the Oriental Ladies Group pose for a group photo at the event in Riyadh.

The Oriental Ladies Group (OLG), a Riyadh-based social organization formed by the spouses of heads of foreign diplomatic missions, elected its new executive committee members for the coming year during a meeting held at the residence of the ambassador of Brunei.

With members from seven Asian countries, namely Bangladesh, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Nepal and Pakistan, the OLG members regularly participate in meetings to encourage cross-cultural exchange of activities and ethnic diversity among members of the diplomatic community in the Kingdom.

Datin Hajah Zalina, wife of the ambassador of Brunei, hosted the event to promote cultural exchange and history among OLG members.

Demonstrating a workshop on home science, Datin displayed the creative idea of flower-making with napkins, a traditional art form in Brunei, to fellow members as part of the OLG mission and objective to foster cultural exchange.

“Such events are excellent opportunities to connect and share our social responsibilities as wives of diplomats, and to implement our commitment to our missions,” she said.

The committee also held discussions for the upcoming OLG annual Asian family event that will be organized at the Bangladesh Embassy.

Farzana Mannan, president of OLG, said: “Patrons from seven Asian countries will discuss new concepts regarding cultures, traditional handicrafts, artifacts, clothing materials and the exotic food of each country.”

Among the honorary members elected for the next executive committee in 2015 are Renu Kumari (Nepal), President Dayangku Hartini Pengiran (Brunei), Vice President Seema Kumar (India), Secretary General Zamile (Kazakhstan) and Vice Secretary General Nargis (Pakistan).

Mannan also announced that the handing over of responsibility to the newly elected members will take place after the general meeting to be held at the Indian Embassy in December.

Recently, the OLG has invited guest representatives from different embassies, as well as Saudi female entrepreneurs, to share new opportunities to exchange knowledge and cultures that the committee provides.

Meanwhile, the OLG is also preparing to bid farewell to Kumala Basuki (Indonesia) and Kanta Reza (Nepal) who will be leaving the Kingdom shortly.

The OLG was founded in February 1986.

 
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