DHAKA: Bangladesh and Oman have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to hold regular Foreign Office Consultations (FOCs) between the two countries.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Md. Shahriar Alam, MP and State Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman H.E. Mr. Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi signed Sunday in Muscat.
The first round of bilateral political consultations will be held in Dhaka soon. Oman will help rescue stranded Bangladeshi expatriates from Yemen, said a press release issued by External Publicity Wing of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The MoU signing marked a new drive to strengthen and consolidate further the existing relations in the field of political, economic, agricultural, technological, cultural, scientific and education, ICT, and a number of other areas.
State Minister Shahriar Alam arrived in Oman Saturday on a two-day official visit at the invitation of his Omani counterpart.
Shahriar Alam held official meetings with the Minister of Interior, Minister of Foreign Affairs and the State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Oman.
At the outset of the meetings, he conveyed the best wishes of President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh to Sultan Qaboos bin Said for his continued good health and long life.
He also congratulated the Omanis on the return of the Sultan after successful treatment in Germany.
During the meetings, Shahriar Alam mentioned that Bangladesh was ready and willing to provide more manpower in the rapidly growing industrial and service sectors of the Sultanate, based on the demand of the Omani Government and the private sector.
In this regard he also stated that Bangladesh has professional, technical, skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled young workforces who can be employed in the Sultanate for its further economic development.
While apprising that some 300 doctors and a good number of university professors/ teachers are currently working in Oman with high reputation, Shahriar Alam also urged the Oman authorities to consider recruiting more teachers, professors, doctors, engineers, diploma engineers, ICT experts and other professionals from Bangladesh.
He also expressed support of the government of Bangladesh to Oman for the ongoing process of development through providing training for the Omani youth, for example, setting up of vocational training centres in Oman, and/or arranging such vocational training in Bangladesh for the Omanis, particularly in the areas of cooperative practices in agriculture and other related areas. The Oman Ministers appreciated the Bangladeshi proposals.
The State Minister requested the Omani side to ease visa obtaining process for Bangladeshi businessmen and entrepreneurs so that they could find out ways to expand business and trade between the two countries.
He also requested to consider extending ‘Visa on Arrival’ facility to the holders of diplomatic and official passports from Bangladesh.
The Foreign Minister of Oman responded positively and expressed hope that during the FOCs, these matters could be addressed.
The Omani side also showed interest in cultural exchange programs, training of government officers, holding of trade fares, cooperation in trade and investment, especially concluding of agreements on avoidance of double taxation and Protection and Promotion of Investment.
The Omani Ministers applauded the contribution made by the Bangladeshi workforces in Oman’s economic construction. Oman is currently hosting about half a million Bangladeshi workforces, most of whom are now in the process of transforming themselves from industrial or agricultural workers to small and mid-level entrepreneurs- as informed by both the Foreign Minister and the Interior Minister during the meetings.
In response to Shahriar Alam’s request to Omani government to help evacuating stranded Bangladeshi expatriates in Yemen, the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate assured of full co-operation and advised to inform all Bangladeshis stranded in Yemen to report to Al-Majuna border, Salalah, oman.
The State Minister also extended an invitation to the Omani Foreign Minister to visit Bangladesh at the earliest convenience, which he accepted gladly.
Shahriar Alam is due to hold meetings with the Minister of Manpower of Oman and the President of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industries Monday.
BDST: 0953 HRS, APR 06, 2015
RS
