Bangladesh and Russia are in discussions to substantially enhance manpower cooperation, with a proposal to increase the number of Bangladeshi workers in Russia to 100,000 within the next year.
Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman made the proposal during his ongoing three-day visit to Russia, where he is accompanied by Prime Minister’s Adviser Humayun Kabir.
Russian authorities have agreed to work on the matter expeditiously, with both sides expected to complete the necessary formalities soon. At present, nearly 10,000 Bangladeshis are employed in Russia.
During the visit, both nations agreed that the current trade volume remains well below its potential.
The foreign minister emphasised the opportunity for rapidly increasing Bangladeshi exports, particularly in the sectors of readymade garments and pharmaceuticals. To facilitate this, Russian side has welcomed a proposal to host a Bangladeshi business delegation in the coming weeks.
Cooperation in technology, specifically artificial intelligence (AI), featured prominently in the discussions.
The foreign minister proposed that a delegation visit Bangladesh to explore the application of AI in the fields of agriculture and health, to which the Russian authorities readily agreed.
Russia expressed interest in assisting Bangladesh with the preparation of its national AI policy and the establishment of institutions of excellence in AI within the country.
