First ever Saudi-Bangladesh business summit begins Tuesday in Dhaka

A 20-member high-powered business delegation from Saudi Arabia will arrive in Dhaka on Monday to join a three-day business summit, marking the official launch of the Saudi Arab-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SABCCI), Bangladesh’s first bilateral chamber with a Middle East country.

The announcement was made by SABCCI President Ashraful Haq Chowdhury at a press conference held in Gulshan, Dhaka, on Sunday.

The summit and the subsequent launch of SABCCI are expected to significantly boost commercial and investment ties between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh, said Ashraful Haq.

He was accompanied by SABCCI Vice President Ahmed Yusuf Walid, Pran-RFL Group Director Uzma Chowdhury and City Bank Deputy Managing Director Mesbaul Asif Siddiqui.

The Saudi Arab-Bangladesh Business Summit will be held from Monday to Wednesday (October 6-8) at a hotel in Banani, Dhaka.

SABCCI, the newly formed bilateral chamber, will officially be launched on Tuesday at a gala event.

The Saudi delegation will be led by Sheikh Omar Abdul Hafiz Amir Baksh, the owner of Majd Al Umran Group, which has business interests in hospitality and real estate.

Other prominent members include Naji Abdullah, Director of Al Isayi Group; Professor Mohammad Asif Salam of King Abdul Aziz University, who is also the head of an IT company; and Professor Dr. Khalid Al Harbi, a 30-year veteran health expert from Al Tayyebah University.

In a written statement, Ashraful Haq Chowdhury described the joint initiative as a "timely step toward building a strong economic and investment partnership between Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh."

He highlighted the vast potential of the Saudi market for Bangladesh's ready-made garments (RMG), agricultural products, IT, digital finance, and eco-friendly jute goods, noting that this is a move to reduce dependency on traditional markets like the US and Europe.

Commerce Adviser Sk. Bashir Uddin will inaugurate the summit as the chief guest and Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur will be present as the special guest.

The standing committee member of Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and former Commerce Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, will chair the programme.

The summit will be followed by Product Showcasing and B2B meetings until the evening.

The official launch of SABCCI will be held on Tuesday evening (October 7) at 7 pm.

Foreign Affairs Adviser Mohammad Towhid Hossain will launch the chamber (SABCCI). BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir will be present as special guest.

On October 8, the Foreign Secretary will host a luncheon for the distinguished guests at the state guesthouse Padma.

The summit will conclude with a closing press conference at Hotel Sonargaon to discuss the outcomes and potential of the three-day event.