Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, during a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday, stressed the need for migration of Bangladeshi workers in legal ways.
"Bangladeshi workers are doing very good work here. They have enough credibility. I don't want illegal workers," she was quoted as saying.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen briefed reporters after the meeting.
On her arrival at the Italian prime minister's office “Palazzo Chigi,” Sheikh Hasina was received by her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni. Later, the Bangladesh prime minister was given a guard of honour there.
Many issues, including undocumented Bangladeshi expatriates, trade and business, came up for discussion at the meeting held between the two leaders.
Giorgia Meloni said they do not want illegal Bangladeshis to stay in Italy as the local people do not want it.
"They opened the door for Bangladesh to send workforce in legal ways," said Momen.
The Bangladesh prime minister said both documented and undocumented Bangladeshis are working for the welfare of the two countries.
But, she said, Bangladesh also discourages illegal migration. "I maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal migration."
The Bangladesh side asked Italian authorities to stop Bangladeshis who migrate to Italy through illegal channels from other countries.
Mentioning that her government is developing 100 economic zones and 39 hi-tech parks in Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina asked Italy to invest in these special zones and parks. "If you want, I offer you special economic zones."
Giorgia Meloni said Italy and Bangladesh can strengthen bilateral trade and business through joint collaboration.
Sheikh Hasina asked Italy to ease the import process of leather goods from Bangladesh. In response, the Italian side showed enough interest in this regard.
Thanking Italy for extending support to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue, the prime minister asked Italy to embolden their support for the repatriation of Rohingyas to their own motherland Myanmar from Bangladesh.
When Sheikh Hasina invited her to visit Bangladesh, the Italian prime minister accepted it, saying that she would definitely visit Bangladesh.
2 MoUs exchanged
Two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on energy and cultural cooperation were exchanged between Bangladesh and Italy in the presence of two prime ministers.
The documents – a memorandum on energy cooperation and a five-year cultural exchange programme – were exchanged between Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and Italian Deputy Prime Minister and also Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
Under the MoU on energy cooperation, Italy will extend research support and investment in LNG, renewable energy, waste to energy and biofuel energy.
PM's speech-writer Md Nazrul Islam and Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy Md Shameem Ahsan were present at the briefing.
