Italy, Germany, Greece and Romania to take 3,000 Bangladeshi workers: Foreign minister
Depending on the skills of these 3,000 workers, there is a possibility of hiring more workers in the future, he says
Four countries of the European Union — Italy, Germany, Greece and Romania — will take 3,000 workers from Bangladesh, Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud said today.
"Depending on the skills of these 3,000 workers, the EU ambassador to Bangladesh informed us about the possibility of hiring more workers in the future," Hasan told reporters after a farewell meeting with EU Ambassador Charles Whiteley at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.
"We also discussed the continuation of reduced tariff and other benefits from the EU for our products till 2032, after Bangladesh's LDC graduation in 2026," the minister said.
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Earlier on 8 July, the EU and Bangladesh signed a €3-million (approximately Tk38.37 crore) talent partnership programme to hire skilled workers.
Ambassador of the EU to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley said the programme will provide mutually beneficial, regular, and safe mobility pathways to the European Union, promoting legal labour migration from Bangladesh towards the EU and contributing to the prevention and reduction of irregular migration.
The EU envoy thanked member states, especially Italy and Germany that have been part of the process up to now.
At the signing event, Acting Foreign Secretary Md Nazrul Islam said he sees immense potential in providing skilled workforce to the EU Member States in the sectors of ICT, nursing and caregiving, hospitality and tourism, construction, transport and logistics, garments and textile, agriculture and agro-processing, shipbuilding, etc.
"We are confident that the talent partnership project will significantly contribute towards the upgrading of technical and vocational training in Bangladesh with a view to enhancing workers' employability and competitiveness not only for EU Member States but also for the global market," he said.
BIMSTEC foreign ministers' retreat
The minister told reporters that climate change, healthcare, assistance in the energy security and increasing the use of green energy through hydropower generation in Nepal and Bhutan were discussed at the second retreat conference of foreign ministers of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries held on 11-12 July in New Delhi, India.
On the sidelines of the retreat, Hasan held bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of India and Myanmar.
"The issue of fixing the quota for the import of perishable goods came up in the discussion with the Indian foreign minister.
"Besides, Bangladesh's inclusion in BRICS, dispatch of technical team on Teesta, and India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Committee were discussed," Hasan said.
"Meanwhile, the foreign minister of Myanmar said they want to start the repatriation of Rohingya but that will be after the current situation in Rakhine becomes normal," he added.
Hasan said the next BIMSTEC Summit will be held in Thailand on 4 September where Bangladesh will take responsibility as the chair.
