Kuwaiti PM arrives in Dhaka on May 3

Bangladeshi businessmen will put forward a set of proposals to the Kuwaiti Prime Minister during his three-day official visit to Bangladesh early next month.
The proposals include setting up of a crude oil refinery plant and investment in plastic sector for mutual benefits of the two countries, according to business circle.  
Kuwaiti Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on May 03.  
"We will submit proposals to the Kuwaiti Prime Minister for setting up of a high-grade crude diesel oil refinery in the country and investment in the plastic sector by local entrepreneurs in the Gulf state," President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Abdul Matlub Ahmad told the FE.
He said the FBCCI will also make proposal to the Kuwaiti PM for setting up of liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants in the country.   
LNG is natural gas (predominantly methane, CH4) that has been converted to liquid form through removal of certain components such as dust, acid gases, helium, water and heavy hydrocarbons.
Mr Ahmad said the country's business leaders will also request the Kuwaiti premier to allow long-term visa facility for Bangladeshi traders, people-to-people contract and import of Bangladeshi manpower annually for bilateral benefits of the two friendly countries.   
He said the FBCCI will arrange a seminar on May 04 in the capital aiming to promote trade and investment with Kuwait.  
Bangladesh is looking forward towards greater co-operation with Kuwait on all fronts, including trade and investment with the Gulf nation, according to government officials.
Besides, the government will request the Kuwaiti PM to import more manpower from Bangladesh, they added.  
The Bangladeshi expatriates living in different countries send US$ 16 billion to the country every year. A large number of Bangladeshis work in the Middle-East, especially the Gulf states.
At the seminar, Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) through the FBCCI will submit proposals to the Kuwaiti PM for importing more manpower from Bangladesh.
"We will send our proposals to the FBCCI for discussing the issue of manpower import with the Kuwaiti PM," BAIRA President Monsur Ahmed Kalam told the FE.
At present, around 0.4 million Bangladeshis are working in Kuwait, he said.
Kuwait recruits nearly 0.1 million manpower from across the world annually, and the number is less significant in case of Bangladesh.  
The government of Bangladesh will discusas with the Kuwaiti premier on their investment in Bangladesh especially in crude oil refinery and more manpower export to Kuwait.
The Kuwaiti prime minister will meet with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina on May 04.
A number of agreements are also expected to be signed during the bilateral discussions between the heads of the government in Dhaka, according to the ministry of foreign affairs.  
Bangladesh has a vast opportunity for foreign entrepreneurs to invest in the oil refinery sector. The country might seek $1 billion as investment in this sector.
Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, senior secretary of the ministry of commerce (MoC), told the FE that the government will also seek duty-and quota-free (DF&QF) market access of local products to Kuwait and building a bridge between apex trade bodies of the two countries for promoting trade between the two countries.
The Kuwaiti PM accompanied by a large delegation is also scheduled to meet President Abdul Hamid.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited Kuwait in February 2010 when four agreements on cultural and tourism promotion, formation of a joint commission and economic and technical co-operation were signed.
Bangladesh exported woven garments, knitwear, home textile, agri-products, frozen food, footwear and jute goods worth US$ 17.13 million and imported goods mainly petroleum/mineral products worth $ 859.64 million during the fiscal year (FY) 2014-15, according to Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCC).   
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