Md. Palash Pathan Tushar, Staff Reporter || Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Engineer Waleed El-Khereiji has met with Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, with both sides expressing their commitment to taking bilateral relations between the two countries to a new height.The courtesy meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s Office at the Secretariat on Tuesday.During the meeting, El-Khereiji said a favourable investment environment has been created in Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. He said Saudi Arabia is keen to further strengthen relations with Bangladesh and expand cooperation and investment in potential sectors.The Saudi deputy foreign minister also highlighted the significant contribution of Bangladeshi workers to Saudi Arabia’s development.He congratulated Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on the election of Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman as the president of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.Prime Minister Tarique Rahman said Bangladesh-Saudi relations are based on mutual trust and long-standing friendship. He said the government wants to build a strategic, multidimensional and long-term partnership with Saudi Arabia.El-Khereiji said Saudi Arabia is interested in investing in sectors including processed food, seafood, tropical food, agro-based industries, information technology, artificial intelligence and renewable energy.The prime minister called for increased Saudi investment in Bangladesh, saying the country currently offers a favourable environment for investors.He specifically invited Saudi companies to invest in the solar power sector, saying Bangladesh is implementing extensive programmes to increase the use of clean energy. He said investment by Saudi companies in this sector would be beneficial for both countries.At the end of the meeting, the Saudi deputy foreign minister invited Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to visit Saudi Arabia. The prime minister thanked him for the invitation and expressed hope to visit the country at a convenient time.The Saudi delegation included Saudi Interior Minister’s Adviser Lieutenant General Sulaiman bin Abdulaziz Al-Yahya, Deputy Minister for Consular Affairs Dr Mohammed Al-Shammari, Deputy Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Muhannad bin Ahmed Al-Eissa, Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Abdullah bin Abiyah, and senior officials from the Saudi foreign and interior ministries.Bangladesh’s side included Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed, Foreign Minister Dr Khalilur Rahman, Foreign Affairs State Minister Shama Obaid, and Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir.Source: Prime Minister’s Office, Bangladesh