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Several Saudi companies were interested in investing in Bangladesh's port and energy sectors, said Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Yousef Essa Alduhailan on Wednesday.
He said that the top officials of the Saudi Red Sea Gate expressed interest in managing the Matarbari seaport, and discussions in this regard are underway.
Addressing a briefing, the Saudi envoy also mentioned that the energy adviser had held fruitful talks with Saudi company ACWA Power regarding their investment in Bangladesh’s energy and power sector.
The envoy hoped that the passport issues of 69,000 people who had gone to Saudi Arabia after the country's independence with Bangladeshi passports would be resolved soon.
The ambassador assured that these people would not be sent back to Bangladesh as they are working on their legal status.
The briefing was organised to announce the arrival of 100 tonnes of dates as gifts from the custodian of the two holy mosques under the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre.
The dates will be distributed among the poorest, most vulnerable communities, and flood-affected people of the country.
The Saudi ambassador handed over the dates to the officials of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Saudi ambassador, who had recently been awarded the ‘Bangladesh Medal for Diplomatic Excellence’ by the Bangladesh government, said they wanted to enhance the humanitarian relationship with Bangladesh through collective efforts, in addition to enhancing relations in the areas of trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people exchange.
The Saudi Embassy issued more than 2.2 million workers' visas over the past three years, facilitating employment opportunities for Bangladeshis in Saudi Arabia, he added.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com