In an exclusive interview with TIMES of Bangladesh, Dr Abdullah Zafer Bin Abiya, ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh, outlines his vision for strengthening bilateral ties. He highlighted the growth in trade, with bilateral shipments reaching $1.2 billion in 2024 and aiming to double that to $3 billion by 2030. He also emphasised the importance of expanding investment opportunities in energy, agriculture, and infrastructure.
The ambassador discussed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting Bangladeshi graduates with scholarships at top universities, fostering future collaboration in education, research, and economic development between the two nations. Terming relations between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh as historical, fraternal, and deeply rooted, he said both countries are working to develop them into a comprehensive strategic partnership.
TIMES’ Navid Alam took the interview on the occasion of the 95th National Day of Saudi Arabia, celebrated in Dhaka on 22 September.
TIMES: What are your plans to take Saudi-Bangladesh relations to the next level of excellence?
Ambassador: Relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh are historical, fraternal, and deeply rooted. We are working to develop them into a comprehensive strategic partnership. On the economic front, the volume of trade between the two countries reached approximately $1.2 billion in 2024, while during the first half of 2025, it reached approximately $500 million, a 6% increase compared to the same period last year.
We aim to double this figure over the next five years to approximately $3 billion by diversifying areas of cooperation and increasing joint investments. The Kingdom also hosts more than 3 million Bangladeshi workers, and their annual remittances exceed $4 billion, which represents a major contribution to the economy of Bangladesh. For our part, we are working to develop training and qualification programmes to raise the efficiency of the Bangladeshi workforce and increase their opportunities in the Saudi labour market. In addition, our two countries are keen to maintain continuous coordination in international forums, reflecting a unified stance on Islamic and international issues of common concern.
Bangladesh needs foreign direct investment (FDI) to boost its economy. How can you help us in this regard?
Saudi Arabia is one of the largest exporters of FDI, with its foreign investments exceeding $100 billion over the past decade. We see Bangladesh as a promising market with significant potential, with its economy achieving an annual growth rate of 6-7% in recent years and a domestic market of over 180 million people. Our future investment interests in Bangladesh are focusing on the traditional and renewable energy sectors.
There is also growing interest in investing in the pharmaceutical, textile, and petrochemical industries, as well as food security, agriculture, and infrastructure such as ports and industrial zones. The Saudi-Bangladesh Joint Committee meets every two years to develop bilateral relations between the two countries in all fields, and we expect it to yield strategic projects that will serve the interests of both countries in the coming period, including investment.
Bright Bangladeshi graduates are looking for scholarships from foreign universities. Can you help in this regard so that our graduates can study at world-class institutes and contribute to nation-building?
The Kingdom believes that investing in education is an investment for the future. Scholarships can be applied for by visiting the websites of Saudi universities, searching for available scholarships, fulfilling the requirements, and applying. These scholarships cover important disciplines such as engineering, medicine, information technology, and Islamic studies.
There are the best universities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regionally and globally, such as King Saud University, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, and King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), which open their doors to outstanding students from Bangladesh. We are confident that outstanding Bangladeshi graduates will serve as a bridge to strengthen scientific and economic cooperation between our two countries and as ambassadors of knowledge who contribute to the development of their countries.
