Prime Minister calls on UAE to invest in Special Economic Zones

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged investors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to invest in the Special Economic Zone of Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister made this call when he met the Ambassador of the Emirates Abdullah Ali Abdullah Khasef Alhamoudi at Ganobhaban on Thursday (June 13).

After the meeting, the press secretary of the Prime Minister. Naemul Islam Khan said that the ambassador of Emirates assured the Prime Minister that they will take manpower from Bangladesh for whom jobs are waiting.

He also said that the Prime Minister and the UAE ambassador have insisted on not allowing any illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. Both countries agreed to be more aware of this.

The UAE ambassador said that some UAE ministers will visit Bangladesh very soon and they will look for new ways to deepen relations with Bangladesh.

“We already have a very broad and deep bond,” he said. But we are keen to take it to a new height.

Alhammoudi mentioned that currently around 20 thousand people are going to UAE every month from Bangladesh. The Emirates embassy issues around 1,000 visas per day. Out of this 500 directly and 500 through agents.

The Emirati ambassador invited the prime minister to visit his country and said that UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum are eagerly waiting to welcome her (Sheikh Hasina).

Alhammoudi said that since Sheikh Hasina expected the investment of the UAE in Bangladesh's special economic zone, the UAE ministers who will visit Bangladesh in the coming days will discuss the matter.

The UAE ambassador sought the Prime Minister's cooperation to accelerate UAE investment in Bangladesh, including container terminals.

The Prime Minister told him that the government is speeding up everything in all sectors. We are doing everything to increase the speed.

The UAE ambassador said that a company from his country wants to provide Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS) to the civil aviation of Bangladesh.

He further said that the process is in the final stage of the main discussion.

Prime Minister's Press Secretary said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given the responsibility of her office secretary Mohammad Salah Uddin to take this matter forward.

For security reasons, airlines in the US, EU member states and other countries now require detailed passenger information before travel. This is known as Advanced Passenger Information (API). Source: Bass

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