Juma's visit opens up new doors: Iftekhar

FE Team | Published: December 13, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

The just-concluded visit of Omani Manpower Minister Juma bin Ali bin Juma al Juma to Bangladesh has "opened up many new doors" in terms of bilateral relationship, trade and business,
Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury made the observation in the city Wednesday, reports UNB.
He said it was the first ever bilateral visit by an Omani minister in the 25 years of the diplomatic ties between the two countries, and it lifted the long-lasting bar on manpower export to the gulf country.
"Oman has now lifted the restrictions on visas for Bangladeshis that had been in place for the last 12 years," the adviser noted.
"Indeed, Oman is now looking to recruit skilled manpower-doctors, engineers, nurses and the like-in large numbers," he said.
Iftekhar Ahmed mentioned that the minister himself visited institutions here to see Bangladesh's capacity to meet their requirements.
He said that the Omani delegation had handed over a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which would be examined and, hopefully, signed soon, and which would "facilitate our manpower export".
"The fact that English is seen as a second language in both countries will immensely help the process," the adviser further quoted the visiting minister to have told him.
"We also discussed other economic and commercial connections for mutual benefit, and the minister had brought along with him some key business leaders," the adviser observed.
"For both our foreign and manpower policies, this visit was a major landmark," the adviser concluded in a statement on the visit.