No major progress in easing visa process

The Joint Commission meeting between Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) held in Abu Dhabi recently has not seen any major progress in easing visa process for Bangladeshis, officials said this week.

The high-level meeting, held after nine years, was expected to bring a substantial progress regarding recent visa restrictions on Bangladeshis working in or visiting the UAE.

"During the meeting, we pointed out difficulties faced by Bangladeshis in getting visit and work visas to the UAE," a senior member of the Bangladesh delegation told the FE this week.

"UAE officials, in response, said they would coordinate with relevant authorities of their government and would discuss the matter in near future," he added.

Historically, the UAE is the second biggest job destination for Bangladeshi expatriate workers after Saudi Arabia.

The flow of outbound workers, however, has dipped to a drastically low level since 2013 when the UAE halted recruitment from Bangladesh allegedly for malpractices in labour recruitment.

Although the UAE agreed to lift the ban on recruitment in May last year, insiders observed that in reality, the restriction is still in place as only 4,135 Bangladeshi workers flew to that country in 2017.

The visa restriction is also affecting the Bangladeshis who often have to travel to Dubai, the main commercial hub of middle-east for business purposes.

In this context, labour, employment and consular issues were at the top of agenda at the recently-concluded JC meeting. However, the officials who attended the meeting observed that there had not been much progress in this regard during the meeting.

"But we would raise this issue again during the visit of UAE foreign minister who is expected to attend the upcoming OIC foreign ministers' conference scheduled to be held in Dhaka in May," said Md Shamsul Alam, Additional Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD).

Despite no significant progress in labour or consular issues, the two countries discussed some vital matters on trade and investment, officials informed.

"We have sought support from the UAE in gaining duty-free and quota-free access of our products to the Arab gulf markets," Mr Alam said. "UAE has asked us to send a proposal to the Gulf Cooperation Council Secretariat through diplomatic channels."

Bangladesh currently enjoys DFQF access to 38 countries including European Union. However, no GCC countries or other countries in the whole middle-east region are providing the same to Bangladesh.

Established in 1981, GCC comprises six Arab gulf-states including Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The organization boasts some of the world's richest economies-- mainly thanks to oil resources of its member countries.

Nevertheless, this cash-rich region comprises a very little chunk of Bangladesh's export basket. Out Of Bangladesh's total export of US$ 34.8 billion in FY 2016-17, only US$ 0.64 billion came from GCC countries.

"Gaining duty-free and quota-free access to the GCC market would help us tap this market properly," Mr Alam said. "UAE as an influential member of the GCC can help us in gaining DFQF."

Apart from duty and quota-free access, Bangladesh has also asked for 'Intellectual Property Rights' or IPR exemption facilities for its pharmaceutical products in the UAE market.

Being an LDC, Bangladesh is currently enjoying this IPR exemption facility for its pharmaceutical exports to 120 countries, a senior member of the government delegation told the FE. "And we have asked for the same from the UAE."

He added: "The government will send a delegation to the UAE very soon to consult with the Ministry of Health and to explore ways of having greater access of Bangladeshi pharmaceuticals to the UAE."

Meanwhile, the UAE has also shown interest in making investment in Chittagong New Mooring Container Terminal, Bay Terminal and Laldia Terminal.

"UAE company Dubai Ports World has shown their interest in managing the Chittagong New Mooring Container Terminal and Bay Terminal under the Public-Private Partnership arrangement," an ERD official told the FE.

"In addition, they have asked for detailed business plans of Laldia Terminal to study the potential opportunities," he added.

DP World is one of the five companies shortlisted for building the Laldia Container Terminal. Once constructed, the bulk cargo handling terminal is expected to enhance the capacity of the country's prime maritime port. [email protected]