Bangladesh is looking beyond product exports and setting its sights on sending skilled professionals to Saudi Arabia, said Uzma Chowdhury, Director of the Saudi Arabia–Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SABCCI) and Director of PRAN Agro Limited.
She came up with the remarks at a press conference held at City Bank Centre in Gulshan on Sunday (October 5).
Speaking ahead of the upcoming three-day Saudi–Bangladesh Business Summit, Uzma Chowdhury emphasised the growing demand for qualified professionals in Saudi Arabia, particularly in healthcare and technology.
“We have been exporting products to Saudi Arabia for 25 years. Now we want to export skilled manpower as well,” she said.
“There is strong demand for nurses, IT engineers, and other trained professionals in Saudi Arabia. The Amjad Khan Chowdhury Nursing College in Natore is already preparing skilled nurses to meet this demand,” added Uzma.
The Saudi–Bangladesh Business Summit is expected to draw leading industrialists, policymakers, and investors from both countries. The event will spotlight new areas of cooperation, including agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, ICT, and manpower development.
Uzma said the collaboration aligns with Bangladesh’s goal to diversify its export basket and create global opportunities for its skilled workforce, marking a new phase in Dhaka–Riyadh business relations.