After years of looting during the overthrown dictatorial administration, Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus today encouraged Spain to boost trade and investment in Bangladesh to aid in the country’s economic recovery.
When he visited with Gabriel Sistiaga, the Spanish ambassador to Bangladesh, at his Tejgaon, Dhaka office, he made the request.
The ambassador sought to know if Spain might use its own expertise to promote the reform ambitions of Bangladesh’s interim administration in any case.
In addition to thanking Spain for the gesture, the Chief Advisor stated that Bangladesh would appreciate any assistance from the nation with the reforms the interim administration was attempting to implement in some of the most important areas.
He underlined the areas of cooperation, including investment in the healthcare sector and infrastructural development for Bangladesh Railway.
“Spain can support us in many ways. It can bring more investment here and expand imports of our garment products,” Prof Yunus told the ambassador during the meeting.
“Also getting some support from Spain in our development sector will help,” he said.
Noting that currently some 60,000 Bangladeshis are working in Spain, the Chief Adviser urged Spain to hire more manpower from Bangladesh, both in technical and non-technical sectors.
Ambassador Sistiaga gave Professor Yunus a letter congratulating him on taking over as leader of Bangladesh’s provisional government from Pedro Sanchez, the president of Spain.
Additionally, he forwarded the Chief Advisor’s invitation to visit Spain for the International Conference on Financing for Development, which is scheduled to take place there from June 30 to July 3, 2025.
Prof. Yunus mentioned his pleasant memories of Queen Sofia of Spain during her multiple visits to Bangladesh and asked the ambassador to give her his best wishes.
He extended an invitation to her to return to Bangladesh.
