Energy cooperation: Bangladesh, KSA to form joint task force

Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia have agreed to form a joint task force to enhance energy cooperation between the two countries.

They also decided to further strengthen bilateral cooperations in several fields of shared interests to achieve the directives of the two leaderships and the goals of their people.

The developments came at the two-day-long 14th Joint Commission meeting between the two countries held on October 30-31 at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Riyadh, according to a press release from the Bangladesh embassy in Saudi Arabia.

Sharifa Khan, secretary of the Economic Relations Division, led the Bangladesh delegation, while Dr Abdullah Abuthnain, Saudi vice minister for human resources and social development, led the Saudi side.

The press release said the two countries would be continuing meetings on the joint task force on a regular basis at their convenient times.

Besides, following requests from Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia assured it will invest in the commercial supply of liquified natural gas (LNG) on an urgent basis, and in the Eastern Refinery Unit 2 project, it added.

The meeting further discussed the establishment of a 1,000 MW solar power plant by Saudi company Acwa Power and another 730 MW gas-fired power plant.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr Mohammed Javed Patwary and Deputy of Saudi Maritime Transport Abdul Rahman M Al-Thunayan signed two MoUs in this regard.

Meanwhile, the two countries also signed an MoU on the establishment of a joint business council between the Federation of Saudi Chambers and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), to boost trade and commerce between the two countries.

FBCCI Vice President Habib Ullah Dawn and Vice Chairman of Saudi Chamber Engineer Tariq bin Muhammad Al-Haidari signed the MoU on behalf of their respective sides.

Besides, the two sides agreed to sign an "executive programme" between the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia to allow Bangladeshi health professionals in the Saudi health sector.

The two countries will also sign an MoU for boosting bilateral effective cooperation in the fields of science and education, while another was signed on the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates.

The two-day Joint Commission emphasised boosting cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, education, health, ICT, agriculture, environment and religious values. A joint statement was signed after the meeting.

The next meeting would be held in Dhaka.

Ezaz Mahmud is a freelance journalist