MCCI urges Romania to hire 20% workers

The Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka (MCCI) on Wednesday requested Romania to hire at least 20 per cent of overseas workers from Bangladesh as the European country has planned to hire one hundred thousand skilled and semi-skilled workers from different countries.

Its President Md Saiful Islam made the call at a meeting with Ionut Viziru, minister counsellor – head of economic and commercial office at the Romanian embassy in India (accredited to Bangladesh), at the chamber’s Gulshan office in the capital.

The meeting discussed ways to increase trade and investment between the two countries and other issues of mutual interest.

At the meeting, the MCCI president requested Romania’s support at the European Council to extend preferential treatment for Bangladesh for a reasonable period after graduating from the least developed country (LDC) status under the Everything but Arms (EBA) initiative.

Saiful talked about exporting products to Romania from some sectors, such as food processing, pharmaceuticals, and leather goods, in addition to readymade garment for export diversification.

“Moreover, Romanian investment would be appreciated in IT, automobile, light engineering, and agricultural sectors in Bangladesh for technical collaboration and efficiency improvement,” he said.

He also said taking advantage of the definition of the rules of origin could be mutually beneficial for both nations. He requested Viziru to allow Bangladeshi companies to set up warehouses in Romania.

The MCCI president spoke about the importance of utilising the bilateral investment treaty between Bangladesh and Romania. He also urged the delegation to invest in Bangladesh’s export processing zones.

Saiful requested Viziru to initiate joint ventures with Bangladesh to revive the Romanian shipbuilding industry. He also urged Romania to work together with Bangladesh on halal beef processing.

He said there are many types of machinery in Romania, particularly generators, that could be overhauled in Bangladesh and then re-exported.

“Bangladesh could also outsource automobile components,” he said. “Romania, as one of the largest exporters of wheat, could contact the policymakers in Bangladesh so that the food security issue can be addressed.”

Viziru said Romania was going to hire one hundred thousand skilled and semi-skilled workers from abroad and a temporary consulate was opened in Bangladesh to facilitate recruitments.

He said a camp office could also be opened in this regard, if required, to expedite visa and other procedures. The MCCI team appreciated this.

Viziru further said there could be partnerships between Bangladesh and Romania in sectors like renewable energy, power, IT, road and highway, dairy, etc.

He emphasised bringing Romanian business delegations to Bangladesh and also invited Bangladeshi business delegations to visit Romania to strengthen bilateral trade.