Bangladesh, Morocco eye cooperation in shipbuilding, maritime, manpower sectors

Dhaka: Bangladesh and Morocco have agreed to explore closer cooperation in shipbuilding, maritime industries, and manpower recruitment as the two countries seek to expand economic ties and diversify bilateral collaboration.

The issues came up during a courtesy meeting between Foreign Affairs State Minister Shama Obaed Islam and newly appointed Moroccan Ambassador to Bangladesh Lalla Bouthaina El Kerdoudi El Koulali at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on July 1.

According to the foreign ministry, the two sides discussed opportunities to strengthen cooperation in trade and investment, with particular emphasis on shipbuilding, maritime industries, and the recruitment of skilled and semi-skilled Bangladeshi workers.

The Moroccan ambassador highlighted her country's strategic location as a gateway to African and European markets and proposed joint ventures in the textile, pharmaceutical, and maritime sectors. She also expressed Morocco's commitment to expanding cooperation in manpower recruitment, particularly for skilled and semi-skilled workers from Bangladesh.

The state minister welcomed the ambassador and reaffirmed Bangladesh's commitment to deepening bilateral relations. She said Dhaka was ready to extend full cooperation to enhance existing ties and identified shipbuilding and maritime collaboration as promising areas for future partnership.

The meeting also covered cooperation in pharmaceuticals, textiles, jute and jute goods, as well as sports, culture, science, and technology.

Shama Obaed Islam stressed the importance of strengthening people-to-people contacts through cultural and sports exchanges, pursuing a mutual visa waiver agreement and maintaining regular bilateral engagements and high-level visits to deepen the partnership between the two countries.