Dhaka: Shama Obaed Islam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, has emphasized the need to expand employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia during a meeting with Malaysian High Commissioner Mohd Shuhada Othman in Dhaka on Tuesday, March 10.

During the envoy’s maiden courtesy call at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the State Minister highlighted that creating jobs for youth and women is a key priority of the government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. She stressed the importance of enhancing manpower cooperation between Bangladesh and Malaysia and underscored the government’s focus on sending skilled workers abroad, read a press release.

Shama Obaed Islam also emphasized the importance of human resource development and vocational training to equip Bangladeshi youth with skills required in the international labor market. She expressed appreciation to the Malaysian government for facilitating multiple-entry visas for Bangladeshi nationals and called for stronger collaboration to expand employment opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia.

During the meeting, both sides discussed strengthening bilateral cooperation in several areas, including trade diversification, agriculture, sports, energy trade, and supply chain partnerships. The State Minister also stressed the need to effectively implement memoranda of understanding signed during the recent high-level visit of the former Chief Advisor to Malaysia.

The discussion also covered cooperation in emerging sectors such as the semiconductor industry, halal sector development, and agro-based industries. The Malaysian envoy highlighted opportunities for technology transfer and noted that Malaysian automobile companies could explore assembling vehicles in Bangladesh while providing training to young Bangladeshi professionals.

Bangladesh also highlighted the presence of more than 10,000 Bangladeshi students studying in Malaysian institutions, while Bangladeshi academics are contributing to universities in Malaysia.

Both sides expressed optimism that Bangladesh–Malaysia relations will continue to expand through stronger economic cooperation, manpower collaboration, and increased people-to-people exchanges.