Hasina asks Singapore to recruit more manpower

Faced with a squeeze in manpower export overseas, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday urged the Singaporean government to recruit more skilled and semi-skilled workers from Bangladesh, especially in the hospitality and service sectors.The PM made the request when Singaporean State Minister for Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs Zulkifli Masagos called on her at the Prime Minister’s Office.The prime minister’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters after the meeting. Sheikh Hasina has called on the Singaporean government to import more Bangladeshi goods including world class pharmaceuticals, ceramics and garments.She also urged the Singaporean entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh and to expand the international market of their products and services, and also to tap Bangladesh’s large domestic market of 160mn people.The prime minister said Bangladesh considers Singapore an important trading partner as it is among the top five exporters of goods to Bangladesh.However, the balance of trade is still heavily tilted in favour of Singapore, she added.Hasina laid emphasis on concerted efforts to increase Bangladesh’s export to Singapore in order to improve the balance of trade situation.She highlighted various successes of her government in different sectors including agriculture, education, healthcare, economy, information technology and women empowerment. The government has been striving to establish Bangladesh as a middle income country by 2021, as envisaged in ‘Vision 2021,’ she said.The prime minister expressed satisfaction over the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Singapore and hoped that the ties will be further strengthened.The Singaporean minister praised Bangladesh’s tremendous successes in various fields as well as establishment of democracy under the dynamic and visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.Mentioning his previous visit to Bangladesh in 1999, he said the country has witnessed stunning development over the last 13 years.Ambassador at-large M Ziauddin was present during the meeting.