Acknowledging the ground reality, Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Sunday said the government is giving much importance on creating a more favourable environment for the foreign investors easing the procedures in the truest sense.
“Let us accept the reality. Although we have been claiming for a long time that we have the most investors-friendly atmosphere that has not been the truth all the time on practical ground,” he said.
Adviser Hossain assured Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Youssef Essa Al Duhailan that the present government is definitely poised very positively towards this.
“We are trying to make things really easy for the investors to come to Bangladesh,” said the Foreign Adviser while speaking at a report launching ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said they have put in a very young and dynamic person as chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA).
“I think the next time, when the Saudi entrepreneurs will come here, they will find a much better atmosphere,” Hossain said.
“Our friend - the Saudi ambassador has really hit the point where we can really make a lot of progress,” said the Adviser.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the launching ceremony of the report titled "Enhancing Saudi-Bangladesh Economic Engagement: Trends, Key Challenges & Long-term Growth Prospects" at its auditorium.
Finance and Science and Technology Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed spoke as the chief guest at the launching ceremony presided over by Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin.
Secretary (East), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Md Nazrul Islam delivered welcome remarks and; Chairman and CEO, Policy Exchange M Masrur Reaz made a presentation on the salient features of the report.
Appreciating the report, Hossain said this is a very good paper done which will be helpful to both the government and the people who will be coming here to invest.
“The ambassador is going back to his country very soon and I have told him a number of times that you are going to be our ambassador there,” said the adviser.
He said the Saudi Ambassador has a very open mind and he has very rightly pointed out things which are actually needed to be done at Bangladesh’s end. “And we need to do a lot of things at our end.”
Hossain said the most important thing is that Bangladesh needs to develop the skills of its people because it is the only resource that it has basically so that the same number of people can make much greater income and can contribute much more to the country's exchequer by sending remittances.
“We have people with some skills but those skills do not always have the demand elsewhere,” he said.
The Saudi Ambassador highlighted Saudi Arabia’s unwavering support for Bangladesh while acknowledging challenges previously faced by Saudi investors.
He reiterated Saudi Arabia’s commitment to fostering a stronger economic partnership.
Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin reflected on the shared historical linkages and values between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia while calling for enhanced engagements among the businessmen and relevant stakeholders in areas of mutual economic cooperation.
Dr Nazrul Islam provided the audience with the background and context of the report, emphasizing its significance in strengthening Saudi-Bangladesh relations.
The report is expected to serve as a guide for preparing a roadmap for both the governments and the private sectors, outlining a time-bound and action-oriented strategies to overcome challenges and unlock the full potential of the Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia economic partnership.