Dhaka, Muscat sign MoU to hold bilateral consultations

FE Team | Published: April 06, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Bangladesh and Oman Sunday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to hold regular bilateral foreign office consultations (FOCs), with the first one set to be held in the city soon, reports UNB.
Oman also assured Bangladesh of helping to rescue its stranded expatriates from Yemen.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh M Shahriar Alam and State Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamoud Al Busaidi signed the MoU in Muscat, said a Foreign Ministry media release.The two countries agreed to go for 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 on 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 the President and the 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 its 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, semiskilled 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 and 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 Bangladesh government's support 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 the 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 Minister 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 evacuate stranded Bangladeshi expatriates in Yemen, the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate assured of full cooperation 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 tomorrow.