KSA keen to invest in Bangladesh's maritime sector
The interest was conveyed during a meeting between a Saudi delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics Dr Rumaih Mohammed Al-Rumaih, and a BIDA delegation, led by Executive Chairman Ashik Chowdhury, in Dhaka
ATT Correspondent 
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has expressed strong interest in expanding its investment footprint in Bangladesh, with a particular focus on transport, logistics and maritime infrastructure, as the two countries seek to deepen economic cooperation.
The interest was conveyed during a meeting between a Saudi delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics Dr Rumaih Mohammed Al-Rumaih, and senior officials of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) at Biniyog Bhaban on Wednesday, says a press release.
The Bangladesh side was led by BIDA Executive Chairman and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Authority Chief Executive Officer Ashik Chowdhury. Officials from the PPP Authority, BIDA and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) also attended the meeting.
During the discussion, the Saudi deputy minister praised Bangladesh's ongoing efforts to promote privatisation and improve the ease of doing business, saying the country's policy direction closely aligns with Saudi Arabia's development strategy.
He said Saudi Arabia aims to become a global logistics hub and is encouraging its leading companies to expand overseas investment in priority sectors. He expressed interest in creating more opportunities for Saudi businesses in Bangladesh while assuring support for Bangladeshi companies seeking to enter the Saudi market.
The meeting also reviewed the operations of Red Sea Gateway Terminal (RSGT) at Patenga Container Terminal in Chattogram Port. According to the Saudi delegation, more than 98 percent of RSGT's workforce in Bangladesh consists of local employees.
The delegation said RSGT is exploring further opportunities to modernise terminal operations by introducing advanced technology and improving operational efficiency, contributing to the development of Bangladesh's maritime logistics sector.
Both sides also discussed potential collaboration on priority infrastructure and logistics projects and emphasised the importance of building on the current momentum to advance mutually beneficial investment initiatives.
Ashik Chowdhury said the discussions identified several areas where Saudi Arabia's investment interests closely align with Bangladesh's development priorities.
"Our discussions covered sectors where Saudi Arabia has strong interest and Bangladesh has clear priorities, particularly logistics and supply chain networks ranging from cold storage to ports," he said.
He added that Bangladesh is also prioritising investment cooperation in financial services and is already engaging with several Saudi companies to help them better understand the investment opportunities available in the country.
"We are facilitating serious investment discussions that can translate into long-term partnerships," he said.
Officials said the meeting reflects growing economic engagement between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia and could pave the way for increased Saudi investment in transport, logistics, maritime infrastructure and other strategic sectors.
