Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has requested Spain to take agricultural workers from Bangladesh, highlighting scopes of wide cooperation between the countries in this specific sector.
He made the call in a telephone conversation with his Spain counterpart Arancha González Laya, the foreign ministry said on Sunday.
Dr. Momen said Bangladesh is the fourth largest producer of paddy and 5th in vegetable in the world.
“Therefore, in the post-pandemic situation, Spain will be able to employ the agricultural workers of Bangladesh.”
He also requested Spain to import clothes, shrimps, ships, jute products, medicines, PPE and other items from Bangladesh.
He also sought his counterpart’s cooperation so that buyers from different parts of the world do not cancel their RMG orders from Bangladesh due to pandemic.
He said Spain has also the opportunity to invest in the development of railways and increase connectivity in Bangladesh.
Dr Momen referred to the investment-friendly environment in Bangladesh, and said Spanish companies would benefit more than any other country if they invested in the country’s economic zone.
“It will also provide employment to Bangladeshis,” he said.
He said these companies will be able to employ a large number of people skilled in IT in Bangladesh.
Dr Momen said that partnership and cooperation of different countries is needed to tackle the post-coronavirus economic crisis.
He said many countries could fall into more catastrophic disasters than coronavirus due to the climate change.
“We need to be careful about this now,” he said.
“If the sea level rises by 1 meter, one-fourth of Bangladesh may go under water. As a result, 35 million to 40 million people may lose their homes in this country,” he observed.
As the President of Climate Vulnerable Forum, Bangladesh also sought Spain’s help on climate issues.
The Spanish minister assured Spain’s cooperation in this regard.
Dr. Momen said Bangladesh has provided temporary shelter to 1.1 million displaced Rohingyas for humanitarian reasons.
The Myanmar government wanted to repatriate them, but they did not create conducive environment for their safe repatriation in the last three years. Myanmar has not repatriated any Rohingya yet.
He sought the cooperation of Spain for the speedy repatriation of Rohingyas.
The Spanish Foreign Minister noted that Spain always emphasises safe repatriation.
Dr Momen also sought his counterpart’s cooperation to return 300 Bangladeshis stranded in Spain due to pandemic lockdown on chartered flight.
The Spanish minister assured him of overall cooperation in this regard.
Arancha González Laya also expressed hope that the economic cooperation between the countries would be enhanced further in the aftermath of the pandemic.
