The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the largest source of foreign remittance for Bangladesh, is eager to hire more skilled workers to help materialise the Saudi Vision 2030, Riyadh’s envoy in Dhaka Abdullah H M Al Mutairi has said. The Saudi Vision 2030 is a plan to reduce the nation’s dependence on oil and rely on alternatives diverse economy and the development of service sectors such as health, education, infrastructure constructive, recreation and tourism and many more.
During an exclusive interview with The Independent at his office on Wednesday, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Bangladesh was full of praise for the huge number of Bangladeshi workers living in the Kingdom, saying that they are contributing to the development of both the countries.
“There is no doubt that the Bangladeshi workers who are working in the kingdom are playing a major role in developing the economies of the two countries and the kingdom is eager to ask for more skilled workers for the Kingdom - Insha Allah - in light of the economic development, which the Kingdom aspires for its vision 2030,” he said when asked to asses the Bangladeshis in his country and whether Saudi Arabia has any plan to recruit more workers from Bangladesh.
When asked to describe the existing relationship between Dhaka and Riyadh, the ambassador described it as excellent and smooth.
“Excellent, smooth and at the highest level between the two countries…This relation was neither born yesterday nor today, but it goes to the year 1977,” he said.
“We are having continuous visits between officials of the two friendly countries and
cementing the relations in all respects and establishing of trade and economic relations. We did not find any mentionable challenge to operate with the People’s Republic of Bangladesh and thanks to Allah,” Mutairi said when asked how to strengthen the relationship further and what are the challenges to it.
About the importance of cooperation between Dhaka and Riyadh in the field of fighting terrorism and Bangladesh’s joining in the military alliance led by Saudi Arabia to combat terrorism, he said, “The cooperation between the two countries at the highest level is very important especially the decision to join in (the alliance) through consensus between the leaderships of the two brotherly countries will bring good result not only for Bangladesh but also for the whole world.”
Asked about the exploration of new areas of cooperation that would benefit both the countries, Ambassador Mutairi said, “Let’s review the historic visit of the Minister for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir to Bangladesh as well as the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Saudi Arabia and meeting with the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, which contributed to the opening of more areas for cooperation between the two sides, whether it is economic, commercial or cultural.”
“I believe they are very good and we hope for more, god willing. The door of investment has been opened for Saudi companies, starting from the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Kingdom in June 2016,” he said when asked if he is happy with the current Saudi investments in Bangladesh and what more is needed to bring more investment.
The Saudi ambassador said that he is happy to be in Bangladesh and profusely praised the people of the country for their hospitality and cordiality extended to him. “The attitude of Bangladeshis towards my country is always positive,” he said.