Saudi Arabia has expressed its readiness to sign an MoU on Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) proposed by Bangladesh to further strengthen the relations between the two countries, reports UNB.
Dr Nizar bin Obaid Madani, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said this in Jeddah Monday mentioning that the government of Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to its relationship with Bangladesh, according to the Foreign Ministry.
The Saudi State Minister said this at a bilateral meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam.
Shahriar Alam reached Jeddah on August 2 on a three-day official visit. He was given a warm reception at Royal Terminal of the King Abdul Aziz Airport where he was greeted by the Director General and Chief of Protocol of the Makkah Branch of the Saudi Foreign Ministry.
During the bilateral meeting, the two State Ministers discussed the whole gamut of bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.
The Saudi State Minister lauded Bangladesh's achievements in socio -economic sectors in recent years and expressed the hope that other countries, particularly OIC member states, would be encouraged to follow the suit.
Mentioning that the existing relationship with Bangladesh has been 'healthy and going to right direction', he said that signing of an MoU on bilateral political consultations between the two countries, as proposed by the Bangladesh State Minister, would create new platforms for different ministries and departments of the two countries to engage more on mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.
While extending thanks to the Saudi government for reopening the 'Iqama' transfer and facilitating the expatriate Bangladeshi nationals with the opportunity of changing professions in February, 2014, Shahriar Alam requested the government of Saudi Arabia to recruit more professionals, skilled, semi-skilled and un-skilled workers from Bangladesh for various infrastructure and development projects in Saudi Arabia.
He also requested the Saudi government to facilitate the issuance of Umrah visa for Bangladeshi pilgrims.
