Saudi Arabia to help build skilled workforce
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is curious about establishing a training institute in Bangladesh to assist create more skilled workforce for recruitment to the center Eastern nation.
Saudi Aramco, a national petroleum and gas company based in Dhahran, is additionally considering investing in Bangladesh's energy sector, said officials of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) at a joint economic commission meeting that began yesterday.
"Saudi Arabia wants to line up a training institute in Bangladesh in order that they will hire more skilled manpower. They also want to recruit highly skilled nurses," an ERD official told The Daily Star.
After meeting with minister of finance AHM Mustafa Kamal at his office within the planning ministry, Mahir Abdul Rahman Gassim, the deputy minister for labour and social development of Saudi Arabia , told reporters that a spread of issues are being discussed.
"Aramco is that specialize in the energy sector and that we [Saudi Arabia] are wanting to make more investments in Bangladesh," said Gassim.
Gassim is leading the 40-member Saudi delegation for the two-day joint commission meeting. ERD Secretary Monowar Ahmed is head of the Bangladesh delegation.
Representatives from other Saudi companies, like ACWA Power and Al Bawani, also are featuring within the Saudi delegation.
The Bangladesh team is comprised of officials from the ministries of finance, foreign affairs, commerce, expatriates' welfare, home affairs, agriculture, energy, education, ICT and fisheries.
The concerned officials said that Riyadh is keen on investing more in various sectors, including energy, infrastructure, communication networks, high-tech parks, IT, textiles and agro-based industries.
During her visit to the center East in October 2018, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina urged Saudi entrepreneurs and businessmen to take a position within the special economic zones of Bangladesh.
A joint commission meeting is held every two years. However, to update and move forward with their plans for investment, a gathering between the 2 countries are going to be held quarterly , said Gassim, adding that his delegation was pleased by Bangladesh's hospitality.
Bangladesh looks forward to working with Saudi Aramco, which may be a trillion-dollar company wanting to invest in Bangladesh's energy sector, said minister of finance AHM Mustafa Kamal.
Bangladesh is fixing 100 special economic zones which can require an incredible electricity supply. There also are other projects that Saudi companies have an interest in and people are going to be discussed at the meeting.
"We already signed an agreement with Saudi Arabia and can streamline that to start out the method ," Kamal said.
Bangladesh is concentrated on creating a talented workforce for brand spanking new areas like technology and management. thereto end, the govt has prioritised education and skills development.
"If we do no augment our skills keeping the requirements of tomorrow in mind, then our development won't be meaningful," he added.
Officials of the expatriates' welfare ministry said that they might request Saudi Arabia to make sure better protection for Bangladeshi workers.
In 2019, Bangladeshi expats in Saudi Arabia sent home $3.65 billion in remittance, almost 20 per cent of the country's total remittance of $18.35 billion that year.
However, there are allegations of abuse, including that of female domestic workers. Also, there are some anomalies in labour recruitment.
"We requested the Saudi delegation to assist address these anomalies and better protect Bangladeshi migrants," an expatriates' welfare ministry official said.
