ZCZC
BSS-06
BANGLADESH-KSA-JC-MEETING
Bangladesh-KSA Joint Commission meeting begins
DHAKA, Feb 12, 2020 (BSS) – The two-day 13th Joint Commission (JC) meeting
between Bangladesh and The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) began here today
aiming to boost the bilateral relations between the two countries in a wide
range of areas including manpower, investment, power and energy.
The Economic Relations Division (ERD) Secretary Monowar Ahmed is leading
the Bangladesh delegation comprising representatives from various Ministries
and Divisions.
Saudi Deputy Minister for Labour and Social Development Mahir Abdul Rahman
Gassim is leading his country’s delegation.
Addressing at the inaugural function of the JC meeting held at the NEC
Conference Room in the city’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area, ERD Secretary said
there has a huge potential to invest in Bangladesh and many countries have
already showed their interest to invest here.
“For this reason, investment in Bangladesh has witnessed a rise in the
recent times and the Saudi investors can avail this opportunity,” he said.
Monowar said Bangladesh is expecting huge investments from the KSA in the
fields of communication, port, power and energy, ICT, agriculture, fisheries,
to pursue the country’s efforts towards attaining the SDGs and also to turn
Bangladesh as a developed country by 2041.
Apart from this, the ERD Secretary said many Bangladeshi skilled and
unskilled workers are now working in KSA and their various issues and
problems what they are facing now there would be discussed in the meeting.
Saudi Deputy Minister Gassim said some 29 representatives from 21 agencies
are attending the JC meeting alongside the private sector representatives and
they are eager to invest in various sectors of Bangladesh.
He said some 1.6 million Bangladeshi workers are now working in KSA and
they are contributing to the economy of the oil-rich country.
Gassim said the bilateral relation is now very warm especially after the
previous visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to KSA.
Bangladesh Ambassador to KSA Golam Masih also spoke.
The Joint Commission (JC) meeting held its last 12 sessions alternatively
in Bangladesh and KSA. The last 12th JC meeting was held at Riyadh on March
14-15, 2018.
In continuation of that 12th JC session, the ERD on behalf of the
government of Bangladesh has organized the 13th JC session here at the Sher-
e-Bangla Nagar.
Bangladesh is hosting this JC meeting in such a time when the country is
cruising well in its development pursuit. At the same time, this year, the
whole nation is going to celebrate the birth centenary of the Father of the
Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
ERD officials said the 13th JC meeting is discussing a wide range of
bilateral issues like manpower and employment, economic and commercial
relationship development, investment and industry, power and energy,
religious affairs, tourism, ICT, agriculture and fisheries, health services
and education.
The bilateral relationship with KSA has transformed into friendship over
the last half a century. It has been better than ever under the able
leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the Kingdom of KSA, they said.
ERD officials also said Bangladesh is now eying on beyond the friendship
keeping the ‘effective partnership for sustainable development’ at the core.
Bangladesh is expecting continued and increased support from its bilateral
friends and development partners.
At the same time, the country is also expecting scaled up investment in
different economic sectors of the country.
ERD officials said Bangladesh is looking forward to seeing the ensured
support for capacity building and sustainability; foreign direct investment
to contribute to employment; growth and poverty reduction; realigning the
development partners’ country strategies and policies envisaged in the
Perspective Plan 2041, the 8th Five Year Plan and other national plans and
policies.
Private business entities of KSA such as ARAMCO, ACWA Power, Bawany and
few others have also come with this delegation.
BSS/ASG/GM/GMR/1420 hrs