Salehuddin Ahmed, the interim finance advisor to the government, criticized the stock market and claimed that many businesses were making stock market investments. On the other hand, we observe that the share prices of certain companies are rising despite the closure of their factories. It is necessary to take action in this regard.
At a discussion event held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, January 5, the advisor made these remarks in relation to the release of a report titled ‘Increasing Saudi-Bangladesh Economic Engagement: Trends, Key Challenges and Long-term Prospects’.
We have come for one to one and a half years with the intention of reforming, he stated. We won’t be here for very long. We wish to leave behind a quality example of our work. We’ll leave a trail behind so that people can continue down that route.
The financial advisor said, Bangladesh has a multidimensional relationship with Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is very important for us in terms of business, trade and economic considerations. Many countries are asking us to do free trade. We are getting ready to do free trade. We have many challenges in terms of trade. It is not possible for the government alone to face this challenge. The private sector needs to help meet this challenge.
Salehuddin Ahmed said that during the previous government, South Korean business company Samsung was kicked out of the airport. Saudi company Aramco was kicked out of the airport.
At the event, Foreign Affairs Advisor Md. Towhid Hossain highlighted the need for skilled workers at home and abroad. He said, we have a shortage of skilled workers. It is not just the case for Saudi Arabia, we are not able to produce skilled workers according to the demand for skilled workers all over the world. The more skilled workers we can produce, the more they can contribute to the country. To produce skilled workers, we need improvement and training based on our skills.
At the event, outgoing Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Issa Yusuf Issa Al Duhailan highlighted the obstacles to foreign investment. In this context, Towhid Hossain said, there was criticism about the foreign investment-friendly environment in the past. The current government is investment-friendly. I want to assure foreign investors that investors will not have to face the same situation as before. We would like to welcome foreign investors.
Foreign Secretary Md. Jasim Uddin, Foreign Secretary (East) Md. Nazrul Islam and Policy Exchange Chairman Masrur Riaz spoke at the event.