Finance Minister AMA Muhith on Friday said Bangladesh do not have enough skilled workforce and modern technologies to utilise resources in its coastal areas.

"We don’t have expertise for using technologies to collect coastal resources; we’re still lagging behind in this sector, it’s very essential to develop human resources in this sector," he said at the inauguration of a special conference on 'Coastal and Oceanic Environment of Bangladesh' at Krishibid Institute.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) and Bangladesh Environment Network (BEN) jointly organised the two-day conference.

Not only the scientists, but also the businessmen should pay attention to the coastal areas of Bangladesh, said the Finance Minister, adding that Bangladesh should learn from the experience of the Maldives in this connection.

The minister informed that the government has taken necessary steps to develop skills for coastal and oceanic management.

Scientists and researchers from six universities and over 30 research orginsations will participate in different sessions of the conference.

Bapa president Abdullah Abu Sayeed presided over the inaugural session.

UNB/LY