Saudi-Bangladesh Investment Summit set for October 13 in Dhaka
Dhaka, Oct 3: A day-long Saudi-Bangladesh investment summit is set to bring together Bangladeshi entrepreneurs, investors and Saudi business specialists to explore investment and business opportunities in the Kingdom, particularly those emerging from Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
The Saudi-Bangladesh Investment Summit 2026, hosted by Saudi Business Consultant (SBC), will focus on helping Bangladeshi investors understand investment opportunities, licensing requirements and procedures for setting up businesses in Saudi Arabia.
The Summit will be held on 13 October at Radison Blue in the city. They have invited all participants to registar through www.sbcexpert.com/en/event immediately.
The summit will include a seminar on licensing Bangladeshi investment in Saudi Arabia, remarks by Saudi and Bangladeshi guests, a question-and-answer session and one-on-one consultations with investment licensing specialists.
Speaking to The Shuttle Times, Mohammad Saifullah, chairman of Saudi Business Consultant, said the main objective of the summit is to create a platform where Saudi and Bangladeshi investors, entrepreneurs and business leaders can connect, explore investment opportunities, build partnerships and promote bilateral trade and investment.
He said the initiative seeks to strengthen business links between the two countries and help Bangladeshi entrepreneurs identify opportunities in the Saudi market.
The organisers are highlighting a broad range of business opportunities for Bangladeshi investors, covering trading, services, technology, real estate, hospitality and tourism.
Under the relevant Saudi investment licensing framework, potential areas include wholesale and retail trade, import and export, e-commerce, distribution and logistics, franchise businesses, duty-free trade and consumer goods trading.
Opportunities are also being highlighted in management consultancy, information technology, engineering services, marketing and advertising, real estate development, property management, hospitality and hotels, and tourism services.
Mohammad Jobydur Rahman, COO of Souda Core IT Solutions and director of Saudi Business Consultant, said Bangladeshi investors are gradually increasing their presence and interest in Saudi Arabia.
"We are trying to help those people who are trying to invest in Saudi Arabia," he said.
Rahman said the initiative is also aimed at showing Bangladeshi entrepreneurs the business opportunities available in the Kingdom.
"We are trying to show the business opportunities for local people," he said, adding that Saudi Arabia is attracting investors from different parts of the world as it implements Vision 2030 and introduces measures intended to facilitate investment.
According to Rahman, the summit will seek to connect Bangladeshi entrepreneurs with those opportunities and provide them with information and guidance on entering the Saudi market.
The organisers have highlighted Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 as a major driver of new business opportunities.
Major development initiatives, including projects linked to the 2030 World Expo and the 2034 FIFA World Cup, are expected to generate demand across sectors such as hospitality, tourism, technology and infrastructure.
Saudi Arabia's strategic location also provides access to the wider Gulf and Middle Eastern markets, potentially creating opportunities for Bangladeshi companies involved in trading, logistics, e-commerce and consumer goods.
The organisers say eligible foreign investors can obtain MISA investment licences that allow 100 percent foreign ownership in certain activities without requiring a local sponsor.
They are also highlighting streamlined licensing and the ability to repatriate profits as potential advantages for foreign investors.
Specific ownership, licensing, capital and regulatory requirements, however, depend on the nature of the business and applicable Saudi regulations.
Rahman also made claims about the potential returns available to investors in Saudi Arabia.
He said the Saudi government was providing measures that, in his view, offered investors greater security and opportunities for returns, and claimed that returns could be 40 percent higher than those available in European countries.
Such return figures are claims made by the organiser and were not independently verified for this report. Actual investment returns would depend on the sector, business model, capital invested, operating costs, market conditions and applicable regulations.
The organisers have also pointed to the large Bangladeshi community in Saudi Arabia as an advantage for businesses seeking to enter the market.
They estimate that more than 3.5 million Bangladeshis live in Saudi Arabia, providing an established community and potential workforce network.
The organisers also highlight Saudi Arabia's Islamic finance and banking sector as a potentially familiar environment for Bangladeshi investors seeking Shariah-compliant financial services.
The Dhaka programme will include an investment seminar and the inauguration of SBC's new Gulshan office.
The programme will begin with guest arrival and registration at 2:30pm, followed by recitation from the Holy Quran and welcome remarks by SBC leadership.
A seminar titled "Licensing Bangladeshi Investment into Saudi Arabia" is scheduled for 3:10pm.
State Minister for Religious Affairs Shamim Kaisar Lincoln is scheduled to speak at 3:40pm, followed by remarks from the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Bangladesh at 4:00pm.
Content Creator Yahia Amin will be present as special guest.
Professor Mokhter Ahmad, founder chairman of the Tarbiyah Education Network, is scheduled to deliver a keynote at 4:20pm.
The programme will conclude with a question-and-answer session and one-on-one consultations with SBC's licensing specialists.
The second day's programme will feature the inauguration of SBC's new Gulshan office, followed by an office tour and networking session.
Among the expected guests and speakers are the Saudi ambassador to Bangladesh, MP Shamim Kaisar Lincoln, Professor Mokhter Ahmad and Professor Akhter Madani.
The organisers said the summit is intended to give Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and investors direct access to Saudi investment and licensing specialists and provide guidance on establishing and expanding businesses in the Kingdom.
