Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman has said Saudi Arabia has shown keen interest to set up a special economic zone at Payra in Patuakhali.
“We want to give Saudi Arabia an economic zone in Bangladesh. Their investment minister has also expressed interest in building an economic zone in Payra,” an official release quoted Salman as saying.
According to the release, Salman apprised the newsmen of Saudis interest at a press briefing at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) building on Tuesday following his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia.
In Saudi Arabia, the PM’s adviser said through a joint venture, Bangladesh will establish a urea fertiliser factory.
“We will import 100 percent of the produced urea. They want to go forward with the proposal,” he said.
Referring to the Islamic Military Counterterrorism Coalition (IMCTC) meeting, Salman said, “We have agreed on some issues in the meeting. Our position is against terrorism in the name of Islam. Terrorism is terrorism. Terrorists have no religion. All they do is to defame Islam.”
Participants in the meeting have agreed to strengthen collaboration among Islamic nations through this organisation, he mentioned.
The advisor highlighted the unanimous condemnation of the ongoing crises in Gaza by meeting participants, alongside a collective call for resolution. The plight of the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh was also addressed, with a commitment to seek solutions.
On the economic front, Rahman revealed Saudi investors’ interest in establishing a special economic zone in Bangladesh. “We are keen to allocate an economic zone to Saudi Arabia within Bangladesh. Their investment minister has shown enthusiasm for this project,” Rahman noted.
Additionally, plans are underway to bolster Bangladesh’s agricultural sector through the joint establishment of a urea fertilizer plant in Saudi Arabia. “This collaboration aims to ensure a steady supply of fertilizers, enhancing our agricultural output. The proposal has been warmly received, with a feasibility study due to conclude by March,” he explained, highlighting the opportunity for private sector involvement alongside government-to-government initiatives.
