Saudi Arabia keen to establish economic zone in Payra

Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman has said Saudi Arabia has shown keen interest in setting up a special economic zone at Payra in Patuakhali.

"We want to give Saudi Arabia an economic zone in Bangladesh. Their investment minister has also expressed interest in building an economic zone in Payra," an official release issued Wednesday quoted Salman as saying.

According to the release, Salman apprised the newsmen of Saudi interest at a press briefing at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) building on Tuesday following his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia.

In Saudi Arabia, the PM’s adviser said through a joint venture, Bangladesh will establish a urea fertiliser factory.

"We will import 100 per cent of the produced urea. They want to go forward with the proposal," he said.

Referring to the Islamic Military Counterterrorism Coalition (IMCTC) meeting, Salman said, "We have agreed on some issues in the meeting. Our position is against terrorism in the name of Islam. Terrorism is terrorism. Terrorists have no religion. All they do is to defame Islam."

Participants in the meeting have agreed to strengthen collaboration among Islamic nations through this organisation, he mentioned.

/KN/