Bangladesh has sought cooperation of Saudi Arabia in future development activities and Swedish investment in prospective areas, including power generation, gas exploration and infrastructure development, for its quick economic progress.
Speaker of the Jatiay Sangsad Dr Shirin Sharmain Chaudhury and State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam sought the cooperation while outgoing Saudi Arabian envoy Dr Abdullah Bin Naser Al-Busairi and visiting Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation Isabella Lövin called on them in the city on Monday, report agencies.
During the meeting, the Speaker and Saudi Arabian envoy discussed various issues of mutual interests of the two countries.
Describing Saudi Arabia as a good friend of Bangladesh, Dr Shirin said there are vast potentiality of expanding trade and investment between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia.
The Speaker thanked the ambassador for his sincere cooperation while performing duties in Bangladesh and expressed the hope that the existing friendly relation between the two countries will be cemented in the days to come.
Dr Shirin, also chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), said bond between the people of the two countries will be strengthened further through exchanging parliamentary delegations.
In reply, the envoy assured the Speaker of continued support of Saudi government in socioeconomic development of Bangladesh.
While talking to the state minister, the Swedish minister who arrived in the city on the day on a three-day visit leading a six-member delegation, aiming to deepen bilateral ties between the two countries, briefed the state minister about her country's development cooperation strategy taken for 2014-2021.
Under the strategy, the Swedish government wants to help Bangladesh in the areas of strengthening good governance, boosting growth, improving healthcare services and address climate change issues.
Isabella assured Bangladesh of her government's continued support to help face global warming.
The Swedish minister also discussed how her government can help Bangladesh to introduce improved energy system and build infrastructure, including road construction.
The state minister briefed the Swedish minister about the current status of trade and investment between the two countries and informed her that the government has strengthened the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC) and introduced e-tender for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).
