Saudi Arabia Ambassador to Bangladesh Essa Yousef Essa Al Duhailan on Tuesday laid emphasis on the increased economic relationship with Bangladesh and said that Saudi businesspeople are interested in investing more in Bangladesh.

He particularly mentioned investments in the logistics, service sector, and renewable energy by RSGT International and ACWA Power. 

During a courtesy meeting with interim government Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus at state guesthouse Jamuna, the ambassador praised the leadership of Prof Yunus saying that he is capable of leading the country to prosperity.

The chief adviser called Saudi Arabia a “very important friend of Bangladesh” and recalled his visit to the country last year for the World Football Summit where he addressed the Saudi Arabian women’s football team and spoke about sport’s incredible power to transform the world. 

The ambassador noted that some 3.2 million Bangladeshis are currently working in Saudi Arabia making a vital contribution to their country. 

Bangladeshi migrant workers send annually $5 billion in remittances through official channels and another $5 billion through unofficial channels. 

If the money can be sent through an official channel, it could help significantly in the economic growth of Bangladesh, said the ambassador.

“They are hardworking people and very religious,” the chief adviser’s press wing quoted the ambassador as saying.

The ambassador raised the issue of renewal of the passports of 69,000 undocumented people who had been living in Saudi Arabia since the 1970s. 

He said the country had introduced the Makkah Route Initiative to ease immigration procedures for Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. 

Last year, some half a million Bangladeshi performed Umrah, he informed the chief adviser. 

Prof Yunus appreciated the Saudi leadership in strengthening the bilateral engagements with Bangladesh, adding that his government is looking forward to continued cooperation from Saudi Arabia.