Dhaka, Oct 5 (V7N) – Montenegro may recruit more than 50,000 skilled workers annually from Bangladesh under government-to-government arrangements to meet labour demand in several sectors, a visiting Montenegrin parliamentarian said today.

Montenegrin lawmaker Gordan Stojovic said this during a meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at her office here, according to a foreign ministry press release.

Stojovic said Montenegro requires more than 50,000 workers annually and responded positively to the possibility of recruiting Bangladeshi manpower under government-to-government agreements. He identified tourism, construction, hospitality and medical caregiving among the sectors where Bangladeshi workers could find employment opportunities.

Shama said the government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman was working to expand legal migration opportunities for skilled Bangladeshi workers. She said Bangladesh has a large pool of skilled manpower, including IT professionals, engineers, construction workers and healthcare personnel. Both sides stressed the need to streamline work permit procedures and labour mobility arrangements to facilitate the employment of Bangladeshi workers in Montenegro. Shama also stressed strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Montenegro.

The two sides discussed forming a Bangladesh-Montenegro Parliamentary Friendship Group to broaden parliamentary relations, strengthen parliamentary diplomacy, facilitate exchange visits and promote greater people-to-people contacts. They also identified significant scope for expanding bilateral trade through diversification of products and removal of existing obstacles.

Stojovic said Montenegro, being an importing country, could source more products from Bangladesh beyond ready-made garments. He identified pharmaceuticals, leather and leather goods, ceramics, and jute and jute products as potential Bangladeshi exports to Montenegro.

Shama highlighted investment opportunities in Bangladesh in agriculture, agro-food processing, seafood, eco-tourism, ready-made garments, renewable energy and waste management. The Montenegrin parliamentarian indicated interest in investment opportunities, particularly in renewable energy. Highlighting Montenegro's strength in tourism, Stojovic also expressed readiness for joint cooperation and investment in developing Bangladesh's tourism sector.

The two sides discussed cooperation in education, women's empowerment, sports and culture, manpower, employment, human mobility and migration, visa facilitation and closer engagement in international organisations. They also exchanged views on cooperation over global issues, including climate change. Both sides stressed making greater use of Montenegro's regional connectivity to explore untapped opportunities for expanding cooperation between the two countries.

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