Noting that Bangladesh has an investment-friendly climate, the Saudi investment minister has said there is potential for more Saudi investment in Bangladesh.
Saudi investment minister Khalid Al-Falih expressed his hope during a meeting on Sunday in Riyadh with Salman F Rahman, the Private Industry and Investment Advisor to the Prime Minister.
Mr Salman apprised the Saudi minister of the steps undertaken by the current government to attract foreign investment.
He also proposed setting up a special economic zone for Saudi investors as committed by the Prime Minister.
The Saudi investment minister welcomed Bangladesh's proposal, according to a press release.
Rahman requested the Saudi minister to finalise the draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at creating opportunities for Saudi investment in the public-private partnership arrangement.
If the MoU is signed, the opportunities for Saudi investment in various sectors including different infrastructures of Bangladesh would be widened, the advisor added.
Mr Al-Falih informed the advisor that the draft MOU is in its final phase and he hoped it would be signed soon.
During the talk, the Saudi minister stressed the importance of signing cooperation agreements on specialised economic zone-based investments.
Mr Rahman invited the Saudi minister to attend the international investment summit to be held in Bangladesh on November 28 and 29, which was cordially accepted by the minister.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr Mohammad Jabed Patwari BPM (Bar) was present at the meeting. Md Sirazul Islam, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, Shaikh Yusuf Harun, Executive Chairman of Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority, and Mrs Sultana Afroza, Chief Executive Officer (secretary) of Public Private Partnership Authority Bangladesh, among others, were also present.