MoUs likely during PM's KL visit: Manpower export top on agenda
UNB, Kuala Lumpur :
Bangladesh will push Malaysia for expediting manpower recruitment from Bangladesh and discussing the
ways to further strengthen trade and investment between the two friendly countries during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to Malaysia, said Bangladesh envoy in Malaysia.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive here on December 2 and will leave on December 4, Bangladesh High Commissioner in Malaysia AKM Atiqur Rahman told UNB on the sidelines of the Showcase Bangladesh 2014 being held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in the city.
Earlier, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak extended an invitation to Hasina during his visit to Dhaka in November 2013.
Atiqur Rahman said, all the bilateral issues will be discussed but the manpower recruitment process will get importance during her visit.
“The recruitment process is going on but it remains very slow. We need to speed it up. And the number of recruitment from Bangladesh should be increased,” he said.
Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding recruitment of workers through G-to-G process in November, 2012 aiming to reduce migration cost as well as malpractices by the dishonest manpower recruiters.
Responding to a question, the diplomat said a number of MoUs are likely to be signed between the two countries during the visit.
“We can’t tell you right now how many MoUs will be signed. But the number could be around 3-5. We’re still planning,” Atiqur Rahman said.
He, however, mentioned three areas – visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders, cultural cooperation; and promotion of tourism – for which the two countries might go for signing MoUs.
The diplomat said there might some sidelines MoUs, not within the two governments, but among the private sectors of the two countries.
Meanwhile, he said they will organise a seminar on trade and investment which is not part of the Prime Minister’s official visit.
Atiqur Rahman said some 30 Malaysian and Korean investors approached them to take part in the seminar.
“They have shown interest for investing in power generation, infrastructures like bridges, airports, housing and other sectors in Bangladesh.”
He said, if they can proceed with those proposals, Bangladesh would be able to get around $15 billion investmen0t in the coming days.
Responding to a question on proposed free trade agreement with Malaysia, the diplomat said it takes 3-5 years to reach final stage after series of negotiations on FTA.
“Still we’re waiting to start the negotiations,” he added.
He also said both Bangladesh and Malaysia enjoy a very excellent relationship and there is no complicated issue between the two countries.
Malaysia was the first Muslim country as well as South East Asian country that recognised Bangladesh in January 1972 immediately after the independence.
Bangladesh is keen to boost the political, economic and commercial ties with Malaysia so that people of the two countries are benefited, the envoy said.
In 2013, total trade with Bangladesh was valued at $1.67 billion, an increase of 5.7 percent from 2012.
Bangladesh will push Malaysia for expediting manpower recruitment from Bangladesh and discussing the
ways to further strengthen trade and investment between the two friendly countries during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to Malaysia, said Bangladesh envoy in Malaysia.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to arrive here on December 2 and will leave on December 4, Bangladesh High Commissioner in Malaysia AKM Atiqur Rahman told UNB on the sidelines of the Showcase Bangladesh 2014 being held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in the city.
Earlier, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak extended an invitation to Hasina during his visit to Dhaka in November 2013.
Atiqur Rahman said, all the bilateral issues will be discussed but the manpower recruitment process will get importance during her visit.
“The recruitment process is going on but it remains very slow. We need to speed it up. And the number of recruitment from Bangladesh should be increased,” he said.
Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding recruitment of workers through G-to-G process in November, 2012 aiming to reduce migration cost as well as malpractices by the dishonest manpower recruiters.
Responding to a question, the diplomat said a number of MoUs are likely to be signed between the two countries during the visit.
“We can’t tell you right now how many MoUs will be signed. But the number could be around 3-5. We’re still planning,” Atiqur Rahman said.
He, however, mentioned three areas – visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders, cultural cooperation; and promotion of tourism – for which the two countries might go for signing MoUs.
The diplomat said there might some sidelines MoUs, not within the two governments, but among the private sectors of the two countries.
Meanwhile, he said they will organise a seminar on trade and investment which is not part of the Prime Minister’s official visit.
Atiqur Rahman said some 30 Malaysian and Korean investors approached them to take part in the seminar.
“They have shown interest for investing in power generation, infrastructures like bridges, airports, housing and other sectors in Bangladesh.”
He said, if they can proceed with those proposals, Bangladesh would be able to get around $15 billion investmen0t in the coming days.
Responding to a question on proposed free trade agreement with Malaysia, the diplomat said it takes 3-5 years to reach final stage after series of negotiations on FTA.
“Still we’re waiting to start the negotiations,” he added.
He also said both Bangladesh and Malaysia enjoy a very excellent relationship and there is no complicated issue between the two countries.
Malaysia was the first Muslim country as well as South East Asian country that recognised Bangladesh in January 1972 immediately after the independence.
Bangladesh is keen to boost the political, economic and commercial ties with Malaysia so that people of the two countries are benefited, the envoy said.
In 2013, total trade with Bangladesh was valued at $1.67 billion, an increase of 5.7 percent from 2012.