The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Foreign Adviser Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said yesterday that the government has formulated a seven-point strategy to ensure welfare of the expatriate workers and increase manpower export.

Addressing a press conference at his office, Dr. Chowdhury who is also in charge of the Ministry of Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment said in addition to traditional markets, the government will explore new markets for manpower exports in Scandinavian, European Union and Eastern European countries.

The foreign adviser named countries like Russia, Norway, Sweden, Romania, Poland and Canada as possible markets. He said the government will take steps for expanding its existing markets like Oman, UAE, Qatar and Libya.

In this context, he told a questioner that a minister from Oman will visit Dhaka next month and labour minister of Qatar has shown interest to visit Bangladesh.

Libya is expected to recruit 2000 Bangladeshis, he said and added he has written a letter to his Brunei counterpart to visit Dhaka. The oil rich country can become a potential investor for Bangladesh, he said.

Dr. Chowdhury said the government wants to turn unskilled and semi-skilled workforce into skilled manpower so that per capita income increases. In this regard, he said the government has been taking steps for increasing skill in areas like English and other languages, nursing and ICT.

Giving a comparative picture, he said a total of 4.75 lakh people were sent abroad on employment till 10th November this year as against 3.81 lakh last year.

The remittance till October of current year has stood at US$5.31 billion compared to US $5.31 billion in the whole of last year.

The foreign adviser said the government has taken initiatives to create awareness in backward areas so that people from such areas can find employment abroad. As a result, the remittance received from such people will help alleviate poverty of monga prone areas, he said.

Dr. Chowdhury said the government wants to encourage investment of foreign remittance for constructive purposes like special economic zone and investment for setting up industries. Bangladesh, he said will work together with World Trade Organization and International Organization of Migration to ensure welfare of Bangladeshi workers.

He said the government will also introduce strong monitoring system so that Bangladeshi workers are not subjected to cheating. In this regard different law enforcing agencies including the task force will be engaged, he said.

Referring to his just concluded visit to Norway and Sweden, he said both the countries attach importance to Bangladesh. They want to find Bangladesh as their strategic partner in South Asia and also in international arena, he said adding Norway will recruit engineers having skill in English for its oil sector.

Both the countries, he said have shown interest to recruit people having skill in ICT sector. He said five-year cooperation agreement between Bangladesh and Sweden is under process. Bangladesh, he said gets US$38 million assistance from Sweden annually.

Norway, he said will continue to provide assistance to Bangladesh in the field of women empowerment, democracy and human rights and environment sectors.

Secretary, ministry of expatriates welfare and overseas employment Abdul Matin Chowdhury was present.

Replying to a question on Pakistan situation he said, "we are monitoring the situation, which is still fluid. We hope that it will be able to resolve the problems soon which is good for the world and also for the region."

Describing Pakistan as a nuclear power, he said the people of Pakistan should be in charge of their own destiny.