Bangladesh and Kuwait yesterday signed a Technical Cooperation Agreement to generate more expatriate manpower in the Gulf country.
Bangladesh Labour Minister M.A. Mannan and Kuwaiti Trade, Commerce and Labour Minister Abdul Wahab Al Wazzan signed the accord at Bayan Palace in Kuwait.
Currently, about two million Bangladeshi workers are employed in Kuwait. The four-year agreement will come into force after its ratification. The accord with nine articles shall be automatically renewed after the expiry of the period unless one party terminates it three months prior to the date.
It said both the countries would exchange information in different work fields and develop cooperation in all matters related to manpower. The agreement was signed during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's three-day official visit to Kuwait.
Meanwhile, on Monday Bangladesh and Kuwait agreed to strengthen bilateral relations. The broad agreement was reached during official talks between Hasina and Kuwait's acting Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah at Bayan Palace.
The Kuwaiti side expressed willingness to enhance development aid in different fields, expand volume of two-way trade, and increase investment in Bangladesh. The two sides agreed to hold a meeting of the Joint Commission on Trade under the Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement signed in 1979.
About Iraq-Kuwait problem, Hasina said Dhaka supports UN Security Council resolution. "One country should respect the sovereignty of another country. If one violates the sovereignty of others, all countries should unitedly condemn it," the prime minister said.
Hasina, who led the Bangladesh delegation at the meet, welcomed more Kuwaiti investments in Bangladesh's agro-based industries, frozen foods, tourism, power, textiles, telecommunications, software, leather, jute, air transportation, oil, gas and mineral exploration.
Hasina especially sought investment in Joypurhat lime and cement industry and construction of another oil refinery in Bangladesh.