Shama Obaed said the Saudi side conveyed its confidence in Bangladesh’s government following the country’s democratic election and reaffirmed its commitment to deepening ties.
A high-level meeting was held between the two sides at State Guest House Padma. Photo: UNB
“>
A high-level meeting was held between the two sides at State Guest House Padma. Photo: UNB
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has expressed strong interest in broadening its engagement with Bangladesh beyond the traditional manpower sector, with investment opportunities in fisheries, food, energy, renewable energy, information technology and artificial intelligence.
“They (KSA) have repeatedly said the same thing – They do not want to be in just one sector; they want to work with Bangladesh in many sectors,” State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam told reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, referring to the visiting Saudi delegation’s message.
Earlier, a high-level meeting was held between the two sides at State Guest House Padma.
Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humaiun Kobir, among others, were present at the meeting with the Saudi delegation led by Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Eng Waleed Elkhereji.
Two deputy Saudi ministers accompanied the Saudi delegation.
Shama Obaed said the Saudi side conveyed its confidence in Bangladesh’s government following the country’s democratic election and reaffirmed its commitment to deepening ties.
She said the discussions were “very successful and fruitful,” with both sides focusing on expanding economic cooperation.
“The Saudi government is interested in investing in Bangladesh by utilising the expertise they have in various sectors like fisheries, food, energy and renewable energy, solar energy, information technology (IT) and artificial intelligence,” Shama Obaed said.
She also said Saudi Arabia is interested in recruiting more skilled workers from Bangladesh, describing the issue as another important area of discussion.
“We thanked them that due to the full cooperation of the Saudi government, we were able to bring back our brothers who died there,” she said, recalling that three Bangladeshi nationals were killed during the recent conflict in the region. The Saudi delegation paid tribute to them.
The Saudi Crown Prince has already invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Bangladesh has also invited their Crown Prince to visit Bangladesh.
Shama Obaed expressed hope that a joint Bangladesh-Saudi investment meeting would be held soon, with participation from the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and other stakeholders.
She also announced that political consultations and a Joint Working Group meeting between the two countries are expected to take place in Bangladesh later this year.
“This communication and exchange will continue,” she said.
Describing the visit as highly productive, Shama Obaed said Saudi Arabia expressed confidence that bilateral relations would continue to grow stronger.
“This visit was very fruitful and, in the coming days, they have also expressed their strong belief that Saudi-Bangladesh relations will be further improved under the leadership of the Prime Minister,” she said.
Responding to a question about a possible visit by the Prime Minister to Saudi Arabia, Shama Obaed said the visit will definitely take place at a suitable time based on discussions between the two countries.
Asked whether issues related to Rohingya passport documentation in Saudi Arabia or the illegal stay of some Bangladeshi workers were discussed, she said those matters did not feature prominently in the talks.
“Look, we have the same problems related to passports in all countries,” she said.
“Our Bangladesh missions in Jeddah and Riyadh are already working to resolve those problems by establishing contact with Saudi Arabia,” she added.
The Saudi vice minister arrived in Dhaka last night on a two-day visit. Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister Humaiun Kobir received him at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
He is scheduled to leave Bangladesh today.]
Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah Zafer H bin Abiyah recently said they expect greater emphasis on strategic investments, industrial partnerships, and technology transfer, noting that the next five years could represent a “transformative phase” in Bangladesh-Saudi economic relations.
“Bangladesh offers one of the most dynamic investment destinations in South Asia, with a market of more than 170 million people and a strategic location connecting South and Southeast Asia,” said the ambassador in an interview with UNB.
Traditionally, the partnership has been driven by manpower cooperation and energy trade.
Particularly promising sectors include energy infrastructure, LNG, oil refining, healthcare services, pharmaceuticals, and food security initiatives, said Ambassador Dr Abdullah.
About The Author
