Italy seeks FTA with Bangladesh; urges focus on legal migration

Urging Bangladesh to come out of its protectionist mindset, Italy, a key member of the European Union (EU), has expressed interest in signing a free trade agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh to elevate bilateral trade to a new level.

"A protectionist mindset had also existed among Vietnamese policymakers before signing FTAs with EU countries. However, Vietnam successfully concluded such agreements, which significantly boosted its trade with rising ASEAN economies," Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro said while speaking as guest of honour at a lecture titled "Strengthening Ties: A Forward Look Between Bangladesh and Italy" at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) in Dhaka today (10 November).

Calling for the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers, Alessandro said, "The government of Bangladesh should nurture local industries that can sustain competition in the global market without relying on high tariff protection."

"Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the backbone of the Italian economy, are eager to collaborate with Bangladeshi SMEs to increase economic engagement," he added. 

He also announced that the Italy–Bangladesh Joint Business Chamber will soon be launched, comprising SMEs from both countries.

The ambassador said Italy, as an EU member, promotes and supports regular and legal migration, as it requires manpower in different sectors. 

"Bangladesh should put greater emphasis on legal migration, which would help the country secure a larger share of the Italian labour market," he urged. 

He expressed concern that many young Bangladeshis spend around €15,000 attempting to reach Italy through brokers and smugglers, taking enormous risks crossing the Mediterranean Sea. "They should engage in small businesses and avoid such perilous journeys, which often end in tragedy," he said.

Alessandro also voiced frustration over the submission of forged documents by some Bangladeshis seeking visas, saying that while family integration is important, the Italian consular section has detected doctored papers, particularly in the cases of married young women.

To upgrade the status of Bangladesh's passport, he said, "Bangladesh should repatriate illegal migrants, discourage unregistered travel, and promote compliance with visa terms."

"Irregular migration to EU countries remains a major concern, and Bangladesh should engage in constructive dialogue with European nations to promote safe, organised, and legal migration," the envoy said.