Momen urges Spain to more investments in tourism sectors

The foreign minister urges to spain for more investments as well as sharing expertise, especially in energy and tourism sectors, with Bangladesh.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has requested Spain to consider employing seasonal workers from Bangladesh as they already have expertise in the agriculture sector.

The Foreign Minister made the request when outgoing Spanish Ambassador Álvaro de Salas Giménez de Azcárate paid a farewell call on him on Monday afternoon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is understood that Spain will need seasonal workers for agriculture in the summer.

During the meeting, Momen commended the Spanish government’s efforts to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, and also apprised the Ambassador of the government of Bangladesh’s timely and effective policies in this regard, said a press release.

The Spanish Ambassador informed the Foreign Minister that many people had died of Covid-19 in Spain, and its tourism sector had been hit hard by the pandemic, leaving many people unemployed.

Reiterating Bangladesh’s commitment to combating the devastating effects of climate change, the Foreign Minister recalled the successful visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to attend the COP25 in Madrid in December 2019.

Mentioning the existing investment-friendly schemes of Bangladesh, Dr Momen called for more investments from Spain as well as sharing expertise, especially in the energy and tourism sectors, with Bangladesh.

The Foreign Minister mentioned that Bangladesh had exported 6.5 million PPE to the USA as well as supplied medicines, such as Remdesivir and Hydroxychloroquine, to some countries during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Spain may rely on Bangladesh if PPE and other pharmaceutical products related to prevention/treatment of Covid-19 need to be imported.

The Foreign Minister thanked the Spanish government for its continued support to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue. He further appealed for imposing economic sanctions on Myanmar by the international community so that Myanmar abided by its commitment for the safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya people.

The outgoing Spanish envoy expressed his gratitude for the all-out support extended to him during his tenure in Dhaka. The Foreign Minister wished him success in his future assignment.