Diplomatic Desk:
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir has called for elevating the bilateral relationship between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia from the confines of traditional labor migration to a multifaceted strategic partnership. He emphasized the importance of building an integrated partnership based on mutual trust, investment, technology, innovation, and human resource development.
He made these remarks on Saturday (October 10) while addressing the national seminar titled “From Workforce to Strategic Partnership: Reimagining Bangladesh–KSA Relations” as the chief guest at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
The seminar was jointly organized by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Center for Migration Studies (CMS) of North South University (NSU).
Highlighting the need to explore new avenues of cooperation, the State Minister called for expanding collaboration in sectors such as agriculture, connectivity, logistics, supply chains, clean energy, and other emerging fields. At the same time, he stressed the importance of prioritizing the protection of workers’ rights and skill development within the framework of bilateral cooperation.
Government officials, researchers, academics, and relevant stakeholders engaged in policy-level discussions regarding the future prospects of the Bangladesh-Saudi Arabia relationship. The discussions underscored the need to move beyond a relationship reliant solely on traditional labor migration, focusing instead on diversifying economic cooperation and establishing a mutually beneficial, long-term partnership.
This analytical event served as a vital platform for policy dialogue aimed at broadening and enhancing the existing ties between Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia, while also strengthening cooperation in investment, technology, skilled manpower, and new economic sectors.
