Skilled workforce, better infrastructure to help Bangladesh grow faster: Canada
image collected
Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Benoit Préfontaine has said Bangladesh needs two things—skilled workers and better infrastructure—to be able to create more jobs and continue to grow maintaining the current growth trend.
“I think, there’s a lack of infrastructure which is a bit slowing down Bangladesh’s ability to grow further, to develop and to get industrialised,” he told the news agency in an interview adding that infrastructure does not just mean power and gas connections rather it means roads, railways, airports and everything that are needed to move products and people.
The High Commissioner said it is a big area where some Canadian companies would eventually be able to play a role in accelerating those efforts on infrastructure front.
High Commissioner Préfontaine laid emphasis on more collaboration between Canadian and Bangladeshi institutions.
“There’s a big need in this country for advanced skills. Not just for PhD scholars, I think in many technical disciplines, Canadian colleges would be able to come here and help educate a lot of workers to immediately find work in Bangladesh industry,” he said.
Current State of Relationship
The big picture is that things are going very well, said the High Commissioner terming Bangladesh-Canada relations “very strong and very productive.”
High Commissioner Préfontaine arrived in Bangladesh at the beginning of Rohingya crisis in 2017 and Rohingya issue, in fact, dominated in the early days of his two years of assignment in Dhaka.
“The relationship remains strong. But I would say the focus has shifted from bilateral issues more to the multilateral issues,” said the Canadian diplomat.
The biggest challenge for him has been to make sure that his government does not forget the importance of Bangladesh-Canada bilateral relationship amid Rohingya crisis.
He could successfully convey everybody in his government that they cannot just look the relationship through the prism of Rohingya crisis.
“There’s much more that needs to happen between our countries aside from the Rohingya crisis. This is how I’ve been trying to make a difference reminding everyone that the story of Bangladesh is not just Rohingya but there’re so many other things happening in the country,” said High Commissioner Préfontaine.
Trade: An Exciting Area
The Canadian High Commissioner finds trade cooperation as an exciting area. For many Bangladeshis, especially the young people, there is a big fear that there will not be adequate jobs for them.
“When I look at what Canada can do to support continued economic growth and creation of jobs, I quickly come to the conclusion that there has to be private sector-led development in your country,” he said putting much emphasis on knowledge-based skilled workforce, more investment and more trade between the two countries.
For the first time ever, the Canadian High Commission here appointed a trade commissioner who spends all the time speaking with Canadian companies about doing business, investment, finding Bangladeshi partners, bringing technology and education; skill development and Canadian curricula that would be useful in Bangladesh.
“To answer your question (on trade issue), I would say, we’re seeing results already,” said the High Commissioner mentioning that Canadian exports to Bangladesh have exceeded $1 billion mark in 2019.
Likewise, Bangladesh exports to Canada for January-October already exceed last year’s total, setting a new record.
He said this is a phenomenal increase and an all-time record and this is significant for them. It means that in South and South East Asia, Bangladesh is now one of the major markets for Canada.
“What we think now is that it is necessary to broaden in new sectors to have more investment and more joint ventures. These will be mutually beneficial for both of our countries,” said the High Commissioner mentioning that the year 2019 has been the best year ever and it is the beginning of a positive trend that will continue.
People-to-People Ties
The High Commissioner said it is vital to have more movement between Bangladesh and Canada and more people-to-people contact.
“Few positive things happened recently,” he said mentioning that in October 2019 the Canadian government lifted travel advisory which had been in place since the Holey Artisan Bakery tragedy.
The Canadian diplomat said the gates are open now and Canadian citizens can come here and companies can send their employees.
“So, I expect a large increase,” he said adding that he, likewise, is hoping more Bangladeshis will continue visiting Canada to study, work, immigrate and visit their relatives as movement of people is important.
While he is here, the Canadian High Commissioner said, it would be fantastic if Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visits Bangladesh. “I know, he’s (Mr Trudeau) very interested in Bangladesh.”
Source: http://www.theindependentbd.com
Tags :
Previous Story
- Canada to remain potentially engaged with Bangladesh
- EasyJet is world's first carbon-free airline: what does...
- Bangladesh Leather Sector Recovers From Two-Year Slump
- Int'l education fair begins
- Promoting garment exports could be single-biggest boost to...
- Bangladeshis 6th top source of international migrators
- First ever iron ore mine discovered in Bangladesh
- Business Communication between Bangladesh and Canada Needs a...