Manpower, investment top agenda

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina leaves Dhaka for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this morning on a three-day official visit aiming at strengthening bilateral relations, resuming manpower export and attracting more investment from the oil rich Gulf nation.

Diplomatic sources said the ties between Bangladesh and the UAE will become stronger with the back-to-back visits by the president and the prime minister to the UAE.

Expatriates Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Labour and Employment Mujibul Haque Chunnu and State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal will accompany the premier.

Hasina will lead a 69-member delegation, which includes four eminent personalities, 11 senior officials from the Prime Minister's Office, seven officials from the foreign ministry, seven other high officials from different ministries, 18-member security team, four media personalities and the 11-member prime minister's official media team.

The visits of the two VVIPs are taking place after eight years since the then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia paid the state visit in May, 2006.

"We have brought back our relations to the previous level which was initiated by Bangabandhu in 1974. This will get stronger with the two visits," said the foreign minister at a press briefing at the foreign ministry on the visits of the two leaders.

Hasina will visit the UAE from October 25-27 at the invitation of UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, while the president will be visiting from October 28-30 to attend the 10th World Islamic Economic Forum.

Meanwhile, the foreign minister will attend the fourth High Level Public Private Counter Piracy Conference to be held in Dubai from October 29-30.

Ali said Dhaka is optimistic about signing of several deals, including the agreements on security cooperation, transfer of sentenced prisoners, handing over of a plot to the UAE Embassy in Dhaka and foreign office consultation.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET) and UAE Company Amala for hiring domestic workers will also be signed.

Dhaka has also proposed signing of a joint statement which is likely to be issued on the occasion of the visit. "I am hopeful about the signing of a joint statement on the outcome of the visit," said the foreign minister.

On the resumption of manpower recruitment, he said, "Discussions are going on. We'll let you know once the negotiation is complete."

Asked whether the vexed issues over voting for the World Expo 2020 are resolved, Ali said two consecutive visits by the president and the prime minister indicate that all problems are resolved.

As per the programme schedule, Hasina will leave by a VVIP flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines at 8:30am and is expected to reach Abu Dhabi International Airport at about 11:30am (UAE time) where UAE Minister for Social Welfare Maryam Mohammad Khalfan Al Roumi and Bangladesh Ambassador in UAE Mohammad Imran will receive her.

Hasina will have meetings with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and UAE Mother of the Nation Sheikha Fatima in Abu Dhabi. She will also attend a community reception there.

On October 27, the PM will go to Dubai to hold bilateral meeting with Vice-President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

The Bangladesh PM will then move to Ras al-Khaimah for holding meeting with its ruler Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi.

From there, she will fly to Dubai to catch the return flight to Dhaka.

Official sources said efforts will also be made to attract more UAE investors as the investors of the Gulf country had shown immense interest in investing in the country's gas pipeline, refinery, fertiliser, port development and power sector.

Bangladesh exported goods worth $245 million in 2013-2014 to the UAE against its import of $932 million.

According to the Board of Investment (BoI), the UAE is currently the fifth largest investing country in Bangladesh with $2.5 billion total investment in telecommunications, banking, ceramic, chemicals and textiles. Besides, it is also the second biggest destination of Bangladeshi workers.

PRESIDENT'S VISIT

As per the programme schedule, President Abdul Hamid will leave Dhaka for Dubai on October 28 to attend the 10th World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF).

Expected to be attended by more than 2,500 participants, Dhaka is considering the president's participation in this Forum as a key note speaker significant since he will get the opportunity to meet and exchange views with leaders of the UAE and other Muslim countries.