Summary:
- Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus urges UAE to lift visa restrictions on Bangladeshi citizens and expand labor recruitment during high-level talks in Dubai.
- Yunus proposes relocating Emirati factories to Bangladesh and establishing a dedicated UAE industrial park, leveraging Bangladesh’s low-cost labor for halal product manufacturing.
- UAE Trade Minister confirms plans to lead a senior trade delegation to Bangladesh, with investment discussions focusing on Chittagong Port and bilateral trade expansion.
- Both nations agree to deepen collaboration in education, sports, and economic sectors during meetings with multiple UAE ministers at World Governments Summit.
Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has called on United Arab Emirates authorities to remove entry barriers for Bangladeshi nationals and increase employment opportunities during high-level talks in Dubai. The appeal came during Yunus’ official visit to attend the World Governments Summit, where he engaged multiple UAE cabinet members to strengthen bilateral relations.
Visa Liberalization and Labor Mobility dominated discussions, with Prof Yunus emphasizing the need to lift UAE’s visa restrictions on Bangladeshi citizens while highlighting Bangladesh’s competitive workforce. “UAE groups can make Bangladesh a Halal product manufacturing hub, using Bangladesh’s low-cost labour,” he told UAE Trade Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi during their meeting.
Economic Partnership Proposals included Yunus’ invitation for Emirati companies to relocate manufacturing units to Bangladesh and establish a dedicated industrial park – a concept receiving preliminary endorsement from UAE officials. The Trade Minister confirmed plans to lead a high-level trade delegation to Bangladesh in coming months to explore investment opportunities, particularly in Chittagong Port infrastructure.
Strategic Collaboration talks spanned education, sports, and halal industry development, with both nations agreeing to deepen institutional partnerships. UAE Sports Minister Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi personally oversaw the Bangladeshi delegation’s departure formalities at Dubai International Airport.
The Chief Adviser’s delegation included Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain and Special Envoy Lutfey Siddiqi, concluding the visit Friday via Emirates flight. The outcomes signal potential shifts in labor migration patterns and industrial cooperation between the South Asian nation and Gulf economic powerhouse.
