Prime Minister's Private Sector Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman called upon the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Saturday to grant duty-free access of some 137 Bangladeshi products to Saudi market, reports BSS.
Salman, who is now in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), made the call at a virtual meeting with Saudi Minister of Commerce and Investment Majid bin Abdullah Al Qasabi.
The Prime Minister's adviser said Saudi Arabia imports RMG, leather goods, plastic goods, frozen fish and pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh. Saudi Arabia could take necessary steps to import halal meat from Bangladesh and thus could minimise trade imbalance between the two countries.
The current bilateral trade volume between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia is $1.3 billion.
Extending greetings of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Saudi king and Crown Prince, Salman Rahman put emphasis on more Saudi investment in Bangladesh.
The PM's adviser informed the Saudi commerce minister that Bangladesh was ready to set up a special economic zone exclusively for the Saudi investors having necessary facilities.
Following request from the adviser to invest in various mega projects of Bangladesh under the Saudi Public Investment Fund, the Saudi minister assured him of considering the matter. In this context, Salman sought Saudi investment for setting up Dhaka to Payra Port rail connectivity as well as transforming Cox's Bazar into an international standard tourism hub.
Referring to the Anti Concealment Law meant for allowing the expatriates to legally do business in Saudi Arabia, Salman Rahman requested the Saudi minister to provide support to the Bangladeshi businessmen in this regard.
Following a request from the adviser, the Saudi minister assured him that a Saudi delegation would visit Bangladesh at their convenient time. Saudi Minister Majid said that they attached highest importance to the farsighted leadership and bilateral relations of the two countries.
He also assured Bangladesh of taking necessary steps for signing a memorandum of understanding on Public Private Partnership (PPP) between the two countries which would open up the door for direct investment from Saudi companies to various projects of Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Ambassador to KSA Dr Mohammad Javed Patwari, BIDA Executive Chairman M Sirazul Islam, BEZA Executive Chairman Sheikh Yusuf Harun, and PPP Authority Chief Executive Sultana Afroz, among others, attended the virtual meeting.
Earlier, a high-level Bangladesh delegation, led by Salman F Rahman reached Saudi Arabia on a five-day visit.
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