Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia has agreed to cooperate on 31 issues to further strengthen the existing bilateral relations alongside boosting cooperation in several sectors including manpower, power and telecommunications. The Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Monowar Ahmed said this while briefing newsmen after attending the Joint Commission (JC) closing meeting with Saudi delegation at the NEC Conference Room in city’s Agargaon on Thursday.
After the conclusion of the JC, the ERD Secretary and the Saudi Deputy Minister signed the agreement at the concluding ceremony. Monowar Ahmed led a team comprised of representatives and officials from different Ministries on the Bangladesh side while Saudi Deputy Minister Mahir Abdul Rahman Gassim led the 40 member delegation from KSA.
Monowar said, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) wants to invest in different sectors in Bangladesh as relationship further reached a new height between the two countries.” “The JC has taken the bilateral relationship into a new height,” he said adding that, “This is the beginning of our new era of friendship and cooperation.”
He informed that the Saudi side has agreed to invest in a number of projects and a couple of MoUs would be finalized soon in this regard. A MoU has been signed on 12th February, 2020 between BSFIC and ACWA power on generating of 180 MW solar power. The delegates from Bangladesh and the Saudi Arabia discussed on various issues covering socio-economic development of both the countries.
Saudi Deputy Minister Gassim said his country is looking forward to take this bilateral relationship into a much higher stage. During the meeting, both the delegations exchanged information on latest social and economic progress of the two countries, reviewed the outcome of cooperation between Bangladesh and the Saudi Arabia.
During the meeting, both the delegations exchanged information on latest social and economic progress of the two countries, reviewed the outcome of cooperation between Bangladesh and the Saudi Arabia. According to a statement of ERD, the Saudi side expressed their willingness to learn about Bangladeshi experiences in microfinance, regulations, circulars and the knowledge in this regard.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) also agreed to share their experience and knowledge in this regard. Bangladesh side requested Saudi side to meet MRA and PKSF directly for specific issues regarding microfinance. The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) agreed to provide the detail information on new investment opportunities and possible future projects to the Saudi side.
Saudi Investor companies (ACWA Power, ARAMCO, Al-Bawany, Al Jomiah, Engineering Dimension, Red Sea Gate Way Terminal, Honey and Health) under council of Saudi Chambers discussed different issues related to Saudi Investment in Bangladesh. Both sides discussed about the allotted land of 1,000 acres by BEZA on a lease for Al-Bawani. Al-Bawani group agreed to conduct a feasibility study to assess the suitability of the potential site.
Saudi-side agreed to take up with the Saudi companies to expedite the implementation of the project with GEMCO (a government enterprise under BSEC) while Bangladesh-side assured all support to the Saudi investor including extending maximum facilities available to the foreign investor under the Foreign Investment Policy of the country.
A proposal of about one billion USD for the Telecommunications infrastructure development (4G and 5G) by Teletalk Bangladesh Limited has been discussed with Al-Jomiah Group and both sides agreed to work further on the opportunities on priority basis. Engineering Dimension of the KSA and BFIDC of the country agreed under strategic partnership for manufacturing and marketing of 100 percent export-oriented furniture plant and wood processing plant in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh side requested to withdraw a temporary ban of aquaculture and meat products, imported from Bangladesh to KSA, as Bangladesh updated OIE’s WAHIS interface. Both sides expressed their willingness to recruit Bangladeshi medical staff to work in KSA. Both parties have agreed to prepare an executive programme to initiate the process of recruitment of medical consultants, nurses and midwives to work in the KSA according to the classification of Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS).
In the field of Cooperation for Foreign, Interior and Judicial Affairs, both sides agreed to work further on expediting the issuance of passports, working visa and other relevant travel documents. The Saudi side also showed their interest on working with the Ministry of Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment and Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) regarding the manpower related issues.
Both sides discussed about the signing MoU between Bangladesh Foreign Service Academy (BFSA) and Prince Saud Al Faisal Institution for Diplomatic Studies (PSAFIDS) for close cooperation and exchange programmes and agreed to expedite the process. Both sides agreed to cooperate further to work together on cooperation in the judicial field between the two countries as well as in the field of drug control, fraud, forgery, and counterfeiting crimes, and update new information to maintain peace and harmony in both countries.
The Bangladeshi side handed over the proposals related to three issues–problem regarding online submission of death compensation cases of a traffic accident in the website of Ministry of Justice of the KSA, the problem regarding issuing cheques of death compensation in the names of the heirs of the deceased from the Execution Court and problems regarding submission cases in execution court– to the Saudi delegation and they assured to take necessary measures on the issues as soon as possible.
Both sides discussed the importance of diversification of mutual commercial products between the two countries. The Saudi side expressed to strengthen the cooperation between the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) and the Central Bank of Bangladesh. Both sides discussed the mutual benefits of promoting the Saudi Export Programme’s (SEP) financing facilities to the beneficiaries of the Bangladeshi business sector and also discussed about organizing joint events.
The statement said, both sides agreed to work together to abide by the rules and regulations of customs authority of both the countries regarding consignments including the country of origin, packaging of products, providing information on the package and other relevant issues. The Saudi side welcomed cooperating with Bangladesh on the exchange of tourism experts, professionals, tour operators, and travel writers through joining conferences and events related to tourism in the two countries.
