Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday (28 October) urged Saudi Arabia to increase its investment in Bangladesh, advocating for strengthened energy and economic cooperation to bolster relations between the two friendly nations.
The chief Adviser made this appeal during a courtesy visit from the Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Youssef Essa Al Duhailan, at his office in Tejgaon, Dhaka.
“This is the time for Saudi Arabia to provide us with its best support,” Professor Yunus conveyed to the Saudi envoy, describing the bilateral relationship as “unique” and distinct from that with other countries.
Professor Yunus further requested that Saudi Arabia consider depositing funds in Bangladesh’s central bank to support liquidity as part of broader economic cooperation. He noted that such an initiative would represent "a wonderful gesture to the interim government."
In addition, the chief adviser called for concessional supplies of energy and petroleum products, expanded trade ties, and increased Saudi investment in vocational training for Bangladeshi youth, enabling Dhaka to send a larger, more skilled workforce to the oil-rich kingdom.
Ambassador Al Duhailan acknowledged the vital contributions of the Bangladeshi diaspora in Saudi Arabia, noting that improved skills would help workers secure higher wages and send increased remittances back home.
Currently, nearly three million Bangladeshis are employed in Saudi Arabia, contributing billions of US dollars annually to the Bangladeshi economy.
The Saudi ambassador stated that the kingdom issues, on average, 5,000 visas daily to Bangladeshi migrants and Muslim pilgrims. In 2023 alone, approximately half a million Bangladeshis visited Saudi Arabia for Umrah, reflecting a 37% increase over the previous year.
Ambassador Al Duhailan reiterated Saudi Arabia's enthusiasm to invest further in Bangladesh, specifically in port and logistics infrastructure, with particular interest in the Matarbari Deep Sea Port, as well as in the power and renewable energy sectors through Saudi-based Acwa Power.
He sought support from the Chief Adviser’s office to facilitate these proposed investments.
During the meeting, Ambassador Al Duhailan presented Professor Yunus with letters from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, congratulating the chief adviser on the occasion of Saudi Arabia’s National Day.
“My government desires stability in Bangladesh and, Inshallah, is ready to support the Bangladeshi government,” the ambassador affirmed.
In a gesture of goodwill, Ambassador Al Duhailan presented Professor Yunus with a copy of the Holy Quran and a replica of the falcon, the national bird of Saudi Arabia.
