Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Monday urged South Korea to invest more in Bangladesh and recruit more Bangladeshi workers, especially in their shipbuilding industry, for mutual benefits.
Professor Yunus made the call when Park Young-sik, the South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh, called on him at the former鈥檚 office in the capital鈥檚 Tejgaon, the chief adviser鈥檚 press wing in a press release said.
鈥榃e look forward to a broader and more developed relationship with South Korea; elevate our existing relationship to the next step,鈥� Yunus told the ambassador.
Raising the issue of the current situation in the Korean peninsula, Ambassador Park Young-sikh expressed concern over North Korea鈥檚 troops deployment in the Russia-Ukraine war and recent ballistic missile test. The chief adviser sought for peace and stability in the Korean peninsula.
The ambassador told the chief adviser that many South Korean companies were keen to invest in Bangladesh with the recent positive turn in business climate.
He conveyed Korea鈥檚 particular interest in taking Bangladeshi workers for Korea鈥檚 shipbuilding sector.
He said that many South Korean companies were operating RMG factories in Bangladesh鈥檚 specialised economic zones.
Bangladesh is the number one recipient country of Korea鈥檚 Economic Development Cooperation Fund and is a very important development partner, the ambassador also said.
The total amount of the ODA loan from EDCF is $3 billion for Bangladesh, involving 34 projects.
EDCF also has 14 projects in progress, either ongoing or at the stage of feasibility study. It will raise the amount of Korean investment to $7 billion.
鈥榃e hope to continue to proceed with existing projects without interruption,鈥� said the South Korean ambassador.
鈥楯ust 50 years ago, Korea was also an ODA (Official Development Assistance) recipient country. So, we are well aware of the difficulties of Bangladesh and could be good partners through sharing development experience,鈥� said Ambassador Park Young-sik.
He underscored the need for early negotiation of EPA between Bangladesh and South Korea.
The principal coordinator for Sustainable Development Goals affairs, Lamiya Morshed, and Economic Relations Division secretary Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky were present on the occasion.
