Dhaka: Chief Adviser Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus today urged South Korea to increase investment in Bangladesh and recruit more Bangladeshi workers, particularly in the shipbuilding industry. Prof Yunus made this appeal during a meeting with South Korean Ambassador Park Young-sik at his office in Tejgaon.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the chief adviser expressed a desire to enhance the existing relationship with South Korea, seeking a more developed partnership. Ambassador Park Young-sik, meanwhile, voiced concerns regarding the situation in the Korean peninsula, highlighting North Korea’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and recent ballistic missile tests. Prof Yunus emphasized the need for peace and stability in the region.
Ambassador Park conveyed that numerous South Korean firms are eager to invest in Bangladesh, encouraged by improvements in the local business climate. He also mentioned South Korea’s interest in hiring Bangladeshi workers for its shipbuilding sector, and noted the
presence of South Korean companies in Bangladesh’s RMG sector within specialized economic zones.
Park Young-sik highlighted that Bangladesh is the largest recipient of Korea’s Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), with a total ODA loan amounting to US$ 3 billion across 34 projects. Additionally, feasibility studies on 14 more projects are underway, potentially increasing Korean investment in Bangladesh to US$ 7 billion. He assured that ongoing projects would proceed uninterrupted.
Reflecting on Korea’s own history as a former ODA recipient, Ambassador Park expressed understanding of Bangladesh’s challenges and offered partnership through shared development experience. He emphasized the importance of early negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between the two nations.
The chief adviser extended gratitude to Korea for its sustained support in various fields. Principal Coordinator on SDGs Lamiya Morshed and Economic Relations Division Secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky were also pr
esent at the meeting.