Dhaka: Italy agreed to take skilled workers from Bangladesh under bilateral migration and mobility arrangements, particularly for the Italian construction, shipbuilding, and hospitality sectors.

This was revealed at the Political Consultations held on June 7 in Rome, the foreign ministry said.

The Italian side expressed satisfaction that at present over 46 per cent of workers under the Flussi Decree are coming to Italy from Bangladesh for seasonal and non-seasonal work.

This was the first-ever Political Consultations between the countries.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Secretary General of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Riccardo Guariglia led the respective side at the Consultations.

Before the Political Consultations, Foreign Secretary Momen and Secretary-General Guariglia signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the foreign ministries of Bangladesh and Italy.

During the meeting, both countries expressed a keen desire to deepen the relations and further engage in multiple areas including trade and investment, technological intervention in Bangladesh's textile sector, cooperation in defense and security, ICT, agriculture, migration, and mobility.

Both sides also agreed to contain illegal migration to Italy.

The Italian side appreciated Bangladesh for hosting the Rohingyas and assured continuation of humanitarian assistance for them and supporting their safe, voluntary and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar.

The Italian side also expressed their desire to work closely with Bangladesh as a partner in the Indo-Pacific within the scope of IORA.