Lankans to benefit from Saudi Arabia’s economic diversification: envoy

As Saudi Arabia shifts its focus from being an oil production-dependent nation, opportunities will open up for Sri Lankan businesses, professionals and other skilled workers, according to Sri Lanka’s top diplomat in the Middle Eastern nation.

“So, they are now looking for other semi-skilled, skilled and professionals, as they move from an oil dependency to build the economy on non-oil dependency,” Sri Lankan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Azmi Thassim said.

Thassim was speaking recently at the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce after arriving back in the country with a visiting business delegation.

Currently, around 200,000 Sri Lankans are working as domestic helpers in the Middle Eastern country, while around 5,000 are working as professionals.

Saudi Arabia has the largest population of Sri Lankan citizens working overseas. Thassim noted that while Saudi Arabia’s economy is slowing down in some aspects, the opportunities are clearly present.

He said that Sri Lankan businesses have an opportunity to tap into the food and beverage market in Saudi Arabia by exporting products such as processed food and vegetable.

Cut flowers were also highlighted as a potential growth area. He also noted that there is a growing opportunity for exchange in tourists, as Sri Lanka is looking to grow its economy through tourism, while Saudi Arabia is looking at liberalizing tourism in the country.

“Several companies are looking to operate in Sri Lanka, in the IT/BPO sector,” Thassim said of further bilateral business relations, which could be cultivated.

Pic by Kushan Pathiraja