Malaysia to continue recruiting Bangladeshi workforce

The visiting Secretary General of the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dato'Ramlan Ibrahim on Tuesday hinted that Malaysia would continue to recruit more workforces from Bangladesh.

"Malaysia would open up new areas like mining for Bangladeshi workers," he said expressing satisfaction over the ongoing recruitment process of Bangladeshi workforces in Malaysia under "G to G Plus" mechanism.

The Malaysian Foreign Ministry secretary general indicated this when he met foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali at the latter's office yesterday, according to foreign ministry sources.

Dato'Ramlan Ibrahim, who left Dhaka at night, visited Bangladesh in connection with the first Bilateral Consultations (FOC) held here on Monday between the foreign ministries of Bangladesh and Malaysia.

During the meeting, the secretary general DatoRamlan expressed Malaysia's readiness to engage in discussion on the possibility of establishing Free Trade Area (FTA) between the two countries to reduce the existing bilateral trade gap.

Terming Malaysia as one of the trusted friends, the foreign minister pointed out that the excellent understanding and goodwill prevailing between the highest political level of the two countries.

Mahmood Ali during the meeting highlighted the advantages of investing in the Special Economic Zones being established by the government all over Bangladesh and encouraged Malaysian investors to come forward to invest there.

The Malaysian side showed keenness in this regard and assured of communicating this to their businessmen and investors.

DatoRamlan informed the foreign minister that Malaysia has been offering training to civilian and law enforcers from Bangladesh and would continue this.

Both the sides agreed to ease visa for the genuine businessmen and take appropriate measures in this regard, the sources added.