Leaders of Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry believe that Saudi Arabia has investment potential in several sectors including information and communication technology, artificial intelligence and robotics and environmentally friendly energy, infrastructure, car parts, chemicals, food processing in Bangladesh. The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), the top trade organization of the country, has called on the business leaders of the country to employ the skilled young manpower in science and technology in Saudi Arabia in addition to taking this opportunity.
FBCCI president Mahbubul Alam proposed to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, considering the matter seriously.
This proposal was made in the meeting of FBCCI’s business delegation with Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Saudi Arabia on Monday (November 6). According to sources, FBCCI raised the need for signing a free trade agreement between the two countries in order to expand trade between the two countries.
Regarding this, FBCCI President Mahbubul Alam said, ‘Business and trade patterns are changing all over the world. At the same time new challenges are coming forward. Bangladesh will also face several challenges after LDC graduation by 2026. In such a situation, Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia should take the initiative to sign FTA (Free Trade Agreement) now to meet the challenges of the future by exploiting the benefits of integrated supply chain.’
At this time, the Vice-president of FBCCI. Khairul Huda Chapal, Md. Rashedul Hossain Chowdhury Roni, Md. Munir Hossain, Director Md. Habib Ullah Don, Hasina Newaz, Khandaker Ruhul Amin, Munal Mahbub, Md. Ali Hossain Shishir, Md. Enayet Ullah, BM Soheb, Sahidul Haque Molla, Fakhrus Salehin Nahian, Salma Hossain Ash, Md. Amir Hossain Noorani, Md. Faizur Rahman Bhuiyan, Syed Mohammad Bakhtiar and others were present.
Referring to Saudi Arabia as one of Bangladesh’s manpower export destinations, the FBCCI President said, ‘Saudi Arabia has currently taken drastic steps for high-tech infrastructure development and industrial diversification. Right now they will need a huge skilled workforce. Meanwhile Bangladesh is now going through demographic dividend benefits. That is, the country has a large number of active, experienced and skilled young manpower in science and technology. I call on the Saudi government to expand the employment opportunities of skilled young workers of Bangladesh in various sectors.
In the meeting, Mahbubul Alam called on the businessmen and entrepreneurs of Saudi Arabia to establish the proposed Saudi Arabia Special Economic Zone in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Industrial City. He also invited Saudi investors to set up industries in other economic areas of the country.
At this time Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry assured cooperation to Bangladesh in the development of port management. Besides, they will help in organizing the Branding Bangladesh Expo to introduce Bangladeshi products in Saudi Arabia, they said.
