Saudi Arabia is looking to expand investments in Bangladesh’s transport, logistics and maritime sectors, with ports, supply chains and logistics infrastructure emerging as key areas of interest as the two countries seek to deepen economic ties.
The plans were discussed during a meeting on Wednesday between Saudi Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics Rumaih Mohammed Al-Rumaih and Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman and Public-Private Partnership Authority CEO Ashik Chowdhury at Biniyog Bhaban.
According to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, the discussions centred on investment opportunities in transport and logistics infrastructure, including ports, cold storage, maritime development and supply chain networks.
The Saudi deputy minister said the kingdom aims to become a global logistics hub and has designated leading companies as national champions in priority sectors. He welcomed Bangladesh’s efforts to promote privatisation and improve the business environment, saying the reforms are aligned with Saudi Arabia’s own economic strategy.
He also expressed interest in increasing Saudi corporate investment in Bangladesh while assuring support for Bangladeshi companies seeking to expand into the Saudi market.
The meeting also reviewed the operations of Saudi-based Red Sea Gateway Terminal, where more than 98 per cent of employees in its Bangladesh operations are Bangladeshi. According to the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, the company is exploring opportunities to modernise terminal operations further by introducing advanced technology and improving efficiency.
“Our discussions included areas where there is keen Saudi interest and strong alignment with Bangladesh’s priorities, especially logistics and supply chain networks ranging from cold storage to ports,” Ashik Chowdhury said.
He said Bangladesh is also prioritising investment cooperation in financial services and is already engaging with several Saudi companies to help them understand investment opportunities in the country.
Officials from the Public-Private Partnership Authority, the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority also attended the meeting
