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Citing food security as a new area of cooperation, Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin on Wednesday said Kuwaiti investors could take advantage of investing in Bangladesh’s agro-based products and food processing sector in the Exclusive Economic Zones.
The newly appointed Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Bangladesh, Ali Tunyan Abdul Wahab Hamadah, welcomed the idea and responded positively.
During a courtesy meeting with Foreign Secretary Jashim, the envoy expressed Kuwait’s readiness to engage with Bangladesh’s proposal on food security initiatives, especially in the development of the halal food industry in Bangladesh, according to UNB report.
The meeting focused on reviewing the existing areas of bilateral cooperation, including employment of workers, trade, energy, food security, and forging cooperation in new areas.
During the meeting, Ambassador Hamadah expressed the Kuwaiti government’s keen interest in enhancing engagement with the Government of Bangladesh and underlined the need to increase cooperation in bilateral trade, business, and investment areas.
Both sides discussed the ways and means to explore opportunities and potential, identifying key areas for structured collaboration aimed at boosting investment and trade for the mutual benefit of the two countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Foreign Secretary described the bilateral cooperation as a role model, adding that employment of the workforce in Kuwait, people-to-people contact, energy security, defence, and development cooperation were the pillars of these longstanding bilateral ties.
The envoy expressed deep appreciation for the contribution of the Bangladeshi workforce in Kuwait, praising them as loyal, hard-working, and committed, adding that they have been contributing to the economic development of both brotherly countries.
He said that Kuwait was ready to recruit more Bangladeshi workforce, especially in skilled and professional trades and in technical fields such as doctors, nurses, IT experts, etc.
The Foreign Secretary thanked the government of Kuwait for employing a significant number of nurses in recent times under the MoU signed between the two countries.
He also expressed a positive response to Kuwait's intent to recruit domestic aides and their proposal for signing a legal instrument with the government of Bangladesh for the smooth regulation and management of domestic workers' employment and rights in their workplace.
Recalling the excellent defence collaboration between the two countries, they also appreciated the professionalism and dedication of military professionals serving in Kuwait.
Ambassador Hamadah took a positive note of Bangladesh's proposal for simplifying visa procedures for business people and investors, acknowledging the issue as a vital step in strengthening economic collaboration.
Both sides underlined the need to work towards expediting the pending visit of the Kuwaiti delegation led by the Assistant Minister for Asian Affairs to Dhaka to attend the Foreign Office Consultations between Bangladesh and Kuwait and the proposed visit of the Kuwaiti Foreign Minister to attend the Joint Commission (JC) to be hosted in Dhaka.
The two sides also exchanged views and expressed satisfaction over their mutual collaboration in international fora, including the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD).
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to deepening cooperation in existing areas as well as exploring new areas of collaboration in a structured and target-oriented manner.