Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Kuwait has shown its interest to invest more in Bangladesh in the coming days.
The assurance came when a three-member Kuwaiti delegation led by Mohammad Ahmad Al-Mejren Al-Rumi, Director General for Asia countries, visited Bangladesh from 17-19 May.
The delegation along with Ambassador of Kuwait in Dhaka Al Dhafiri met Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khondker Mosharaf Hossain and Adviser to Prime Minister on International Affairs Gowher Rizvi on Thursday, a foreign ministry press statement said.
Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, MP requested Kuwait to invest in infrastructure projects in Bangladesh and import world class products such as readymade garments, pharmaceuticals, jute items, leather etc.
She also requested to lift ban on manpower recruitment and recruit skilled workforce from Bangladesh. The Kuwait side assured to actively consider the matter.
During the courtesy call on with expatriate welfare minister issues relating to manpower and labor featured prominently. The expatriate welfare minister also urged Kuwait to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh.
The Director General assured him full cooperation in this regard and told that Kuwait would encourage more skilled manpower especially in the technical fields including professional like doctors, engineers and nurses.
In the meeting with Dr. Rizvi investment friendly opportunities prevailing in Bangladesh particularly in the field of power generation, exploration of gas and oil in the offshore, education (establishing international level universities), various types of mega infrastructure projects was discussed.
Kuwaiti delegation hoped that Kuwaiti investors would give serious consideration for these opportunities, the statement added.
The delegation had a bilateral meeting in the afternoon of May 17 with Nazrul Islam, Director General (West and Central Asia) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where representatives from Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Shipping, Energy and Mineral Resources Division and Board of Investment (BOI) were also present.
Terming Bangladesh as a country with ample opportunities the Kuwaiti Director General informed Kuwait has the desire to invest more in the coming days.
During the meeting, Kuwait side sought support of Bangladesh for its candidature to the elections for non-permanent seat at the UNSC for 2018-19 and membership for United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for 2013-14 for which the Bangladesh side assured of active consideration.
Kuwait side informed that in October 2012 the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit is scheduled to be held in Kuwait and they hoped that Bangladesh would actively participate in the Summit.
BBN/SSR/AD-20May12-1:10 pm (BST)
