Diplomatic Correspondent :
The Serbian government has shown keen interest to take Bangladeshi workers and students for work and study there, Serbian Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic said on Wednesday.
“Bangladesh has a huge potential of its manpower. We want to use this opportunity. We also want Bangladesh students to study there with scholarship,” he said.
The remarks came after a bilateral meeting between Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and his Serbian counterpart Nikola Selakovic at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital.
After the meeting both sides signed two memorandum of understanding on visa free travel for the diplomats and the government passport holders and the regular Foreign Office Consultation (FOC).
Serbian Foreign Minister said, “It’s my historic visit here because this year we celebrate our 50-year of diplomatic relations. We want to cement the relations by increased connectivity.”
Foreign Minister Momen said, “Our business relation is very limited. We talked about it how to increase our engagement. They expressed interest to increase the businesses. We have also talked about the investment.”
He also said that Bangladesh wants to enhance the engagement of the businessmen with them so that chamber of commerce of both countries can increase their communication.
“Many countries enjoy free trade agreement with Serbia. We can get much tariff facilities,” he added.
“We have signed the FOC. In future we will have regular meeting on various agenda. Besides, we have talked about different international issues. We want to be the members of Human Rights Commission. We have sought their
cooperation here,” Momen said. About the labour market in Belgrade, Momen said, “Serbia has expressed keen interest to take skilled manpower. They are happy with our labour force. Their companies are happy with the performance of our people there. They think we have scope to send more manpower there.”
Bangladesh Foreign Minister said, Serbian wants to take more engineers, nurses, and English teachers, adding as Serbia has no embassy here, it is a problem in sending manpower smoothly.
“We face trouble as Serbia has no Embassy here. They have an Embassy in New Delhi. We are thinking how to ease the visa facility for our people,” he said.
About the Serbian scholarship, he said, “They are granting scholarship to our students. But so far two students only have applied for it. Serbia wants our students to study there.”
