Several Saudi companies are interested in investing in Bangladesh in its port and energy sectors, said Saudi Ambassador in Dhaka Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan on Wednesday.
The top officials of the Saudi Red Sea Gate expressed their interest in managing Matarbari deep-sea port and discussions to this end are well underway, according to him.
Addressing a briefing, he said the energy adviser had a fruitful meeting with Saudi company ACWA Power with regard to their investment in Bangladesh's energy and power sector.
The envoy hoped to resolve the passport issue of 69,000 people who went to Saudi Arabia after the country's independence with Bangladeshi passports.
"We hope it will be resolved soon," he said.
Mr Alduhailan assured that these people would not be sent back to Bangladesh as they had been working on their legal status.
The briefing was convened to announce the arrival of 100 tonnes of dates as a gift from the custodian of the two holy mosques under the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.
The dates will be distributed among the poorest, most vulnerable communities and flood-affected people of the country ahead of the start of Ramadan.
Mr Alduhailan handed over the sweet sticky fruit to the officials of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at an event.
The Saudi ambassador, who was recently awarded the 'Bangladesh Medal for Diplomatic Excellence', said they want to enhance humanitarian ties with Bangladesh through collective efforts in addition to enhancing relations in the areas of trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchange.
The Saudi Embassy has issued more than 2.2-million worker visas over the past three years, facilitating scope for Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia, he added.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com
