Dubai - He added that Bangladesh gives great importance to its relation with UAE.
Published: Sat 31 Mar 2018, 12:00 AM
Updated: Sat 31 Mar 2018, 7:37 PM
The workforce from Bangladesh continue to play significant role in the UAE economy and they consider UAE as their second home, according to Muhammad Imran, Bangladesh Ambassador to UAE.
The Bangladesh envoy was speaking to Khaleej Times on the sidelines of the Independence Day celebrations held recently in Dubai.
In the 1970s and 80s, Bangladeshi skilled and semi-skilled labour has contributed to initial development phase of UAE while Bangladeshi engineers worked in energy and power sector. Besides, Bangladeshi companies were involved in development of number of infrastructure projects and the majority working in farming sector were from Bangladesh.
He said that although the number of Bangladeshi workers reduced in recent year's, the workforce from Bangladesh continue to play significant role in the UAE economy.
The envoy added that the country has attained self-sufficiency producing 85 million tonnes of food in a year - sufficient to feed 160 million people - which helped Bangladesh become a model nation for fighting poverty.
The event hosted by Bangladesh General Consul in Dubai S. Bodiruzzaman was attended by Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Ambassador Abdul Rahman Al Matoui, director at Ministry of Foreign Affairs office; foreign diplomats and community members.
In his speech, Bodiruzzaman has said Bangladesh's is marching forward and become model of growth and self-determination by achieving success and fulfilling millennium development goals (MDG), despite being a dense populated country.
He added that Bangladesh gives great importance to its relation with UAE and the trade ties between the two countries is over $1 billion.
Speaking to Khaleej Times, Dr Zeenath Reza Khan, a professor at the University of Wollongong in Dubai, said: "The Independence Day is so close to my heart and it is an occasion to pay tribute to freedom fighters. I was born here in UAE, but feel so close to home. In spite of being UAE residents, we do researches and studies to ensure that Bangladesh will achieve development and welfare."
The Independence Day celebrations this year was so special for the country as Bangladesh has met for the first time three requirements set by the United Nations to graduate from least developing countries to developing countries.
amira@khaleejtimes.com
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