Chief Adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus called on South Korea to increase investments in Bangladesh and to recruit more Bangladeshi workers, particularly for the Korean shipbuilding industry, emphasizing the mutual benefits this would bring.
The call came during a meeting with South Korean Ambassador Park Young-sik, held at Prof. Yunus's office in Dhaka's Tejgaon.
Prof. Yunus expressed a desire to elevate the bilateral relationship with South Korea, pointing to the potential for broader cooperation. Ambassador Park highlighted South Korea's ongoing investments in Bangladesh, noting that many Korean companies operate RMG (ready-made garment) factories in Bangladesh's specialized economic zones. Park also expressed interest in hiring more Bangladeshi workers for Korea’s shipbuilding sector.
Bangladesh is a primary recipient of South Korea's Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF), which currently funds 34 projects worth $3 billion, with 14 additional projects under feasibility study, potentially raising the total Korean investment to $7 billion. Ambassador Park also suggested an early negotiation of an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to facilitate greater trade.
Both sides underscored the importance of peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, with Ambassador Park sharing concerns over North Korea's recent actions. Prof. Yunus thanked Korea for its ongoing support in development initiatives, expressing optimism for continued collaboration.
Principal Coordinator for SDGs Lamiya Morshed and Economic Relations Division Secretary Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky were also present at the meeting.
