Dhaka:Montenegro may recruit more than 50,000 skilled workers annually from Bangladesh through government-to-government arrangements to address labor shortages in various sectors, as stated by visiting Montenegrin parliamentarian Gordan Stojovic during a meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Stojovic highlighted the need for workers in sectors such as tourism, construction, hospitality, and medical care in Montenegro and expressed a positive response to the possibility of recruiting Bangladeshi manpower under these agreements.
State Minister Shama Obaed Islam mentioned that the Bangladeshi government, under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, is working to expand legal migration opportunities for skilled workers. She noted that Bangladesh has a substantial pool of skilled professionals, including those in IT, engineering, construction, and healthcare.
Both sides emphasized the importance of streamlining work permit procedures and labor mobility arrangements to facilitate the employment of Bangladeshi workers in Montenegro. Additionally, they discussed strengthening bilateral relations and the potential formation of a Bangladesh-Montenegro Parliamentary Friendship Group to enhance parliamentary relations and promote people-to-people contacts.
Opportunities for expanding bilateral trade were also explored, with Stojovic noting that Montenegro could import more products from Bangladesh, such as pharmaceuticals, leather goods, ceramics, and jute products, beyond its current imports of ready-made garments. Shama pointed out potential investment areas in Bangladesh, including agriculture, renewable energy, and eco-tourism.
Furthermore, the Montenegrin parliamentarian expressed interest in investment opportunities, particularly in renewable energy, and expressed a willingness to collaborate on developing Bangladesh's tourism sector. Discussions also covered cooperation in education, women's empowerment, sports, and culture, as well as global issues like climate change, with both sides aiming to leverage Montenegro’s regional connectivity for expanded cooperation.