Dhaka: The Economic Relations Division (ERD) under Bangladesh’s Ministry of Finance has announced a significant collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) through a newly signed grant agreement. This agreement, valued at £3 million, aims to support the “Supporting a Talent Partnership with Bangladesh” project, which will be implemented over three years from 2024 to 2027. This initiative will see the participation of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and other stakeholders, with financing and support from the European Union (EU).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the project continues the long-established partnership between the Government of Bangladesh and the ILO, which has been in place since Bangladesh joined the ILO on June 22, 1972. Over the past 52 years, the ILO has been instrumental in providing both financial and technical assistance, aiming to foster inclusive economic growth and promote productive employment and decent work for all in Banglade
sh. This has been achieved through collaborations with government bodies, employers, and workers’ organizations.
The agreement was formalized with the signatures of Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the ERD, and Tuomo Poutiainen, Country Director of the ILO. The signing ceremony was attended by Michal Krejza, Head of Development Cooperation for the EU delegation to Bangladesh, as well as other senior officials from ERD, ILO, the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment (MOEWOE), TMED, and various government agencies.
The project’s primary goal is to enhance the skills of Bangladeshi migrant workers in sectors such as health, engineering, ICT, care, hospitality, construction, and agriculture. This will align with the skilled labor demands of both Bangladesh’s labor market and select EU Member States. Moreover, the project aims to establish secure and regular migration pathways between Bangladesh and these EU countries.
By doing so, the project is expected to contribute to the achievem
ent of Bangladesh’s Five-Year Plan targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to education, labor, and the reduction of inequalities, specifically Goals 4, 8, and 10.