Saudi Arabia has expressed strong interest in expanding its investment footprint in Bangladesh, with a particular focus on transport and logistics, especially maritime sector development.
The interest was highlighted during a meeting held at Biniyog Bhaban between Rumaih Mohammed Al-Rumaih, deputy minister of Transport and Logistics of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and a Saudi delegation with Bangladeshi officials, reads a press release.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by Ashik Chowdhury, executive chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) and chief executive officer of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Authority.
Officials from the PPP Authority, BIDA and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) also attended the meeting.
During the discussion, the Saudi Deputy Minister praised Bangladesh’s emphasis on privatisation and business facilitation, saying it aligns with Saudi Arabia’s own development strategy.
He said the Kingdom aims to become a global logistics hub and has identified leading companies as national champions in priority sectors.
He also expressed interest in creating more opportunities for Saudi companies to invest in Bangladesh while assuring support for Bangladeshi businesses seeking to expand into the Saudi market.
The Saudi Deputy Minister highlighted the contribution of Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) at Chattogram Port’s Patenga Container Terminal, noting that more than 98 per cent of its workforce in Bangladesh is made up of Bangladeshi employees.
He added that RSGT is exploring further opportunities to modernise terminal operations in Bangladesh by improving efficiency and introducing advanced technology.
The Saudi delegation also expressed its willingness to align with the Government of Bangladesh on priority projects while outlining areas of Saudi investment interest.
Both sides stressed the importance of capitalising on the current momentum to advance mutually beneficial projects.
“Our discussions included areas where there is long-term Saudi interest and strong alignment with Bangladesh’s priorities, especially logistics and supply chain networks ranging from cold storage to ports. Bangladesh is also prioritising investment cooperation in financial services.
Beyond this visit, we are already engaging with multiple Saudi companies to help them understand the opportunities available in Bangladesh and facilitate serious investment conversations,” said Ashik.
