Bangladesh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday discussed ways for increased Saudi investment in special economic zones and offshore banking systems in Bangladesh.
The issues were discussed at the second Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia Political Consultations held in Riyadh.
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud led the Bangladesh delegation.
Hasan discussed wide-ranging issues including regional and global development and bilateral, economic, manpower, and energy partnerships with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.
The high-level meeting was also attended by Salman F Rahman, advisor to the prime minister for private industry and investment; Additional Foreign Secretary (Bilateral-East and West) and Inspector
General of Missions Dr Md Nazrul Islam; Bangladesh Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Md Javed Patwari; Director General (West Asia) Md Shafiqur Rahman; Director General (Foreign Minister’s Office) Md Arif Nazmul Hasan and Saudi officials.
They reviewed the entire spectrum of partnership between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.
At the meeting, they emphasised the Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council to speed up their activities for the development of commercial relations between the two countries.
They also discussed Bangladesh’s special privileges in importing oil from Saudi Arabia.
Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia explore enhanced investment in economic zones and offshore banking at a high-level meeting.
The foreign minister thanked Saudi Arabia for providing employment opportunities to 3 million Bangladeshis in the kingdom.
A productive discussion was held on bringing more transparency in the migration of Bangladeshi manpower to Saudi Arabia and forming a joint task force to stop the harassment of workers by groups with vested interests, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Hasan requested to provide special registration opportunities to Bangladeshi expatriates doing business in Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi foreign minister also assured cooperation regarding Rohingya repatriation.
At the meeting, both sides emphasised the united efforts of the Muslim world to stop Israel’s brutality in Gaza.
