The Economic Relations Division (ERD) of the Ministry of Finance has recently signed a 3 million euros grant agreement with the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Titled ‘Supporting a Talent Partnership with Bangladesh,’ the project will be implemented from 2024 to 2027.

It will involve collaboration with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, along with other stakeholders, and is supported and financed by the EU.

Md Shahriar Kader Siddiky, Secretary of the ERD, and Tuomo Poutiainen, Country Director of the ILO, signed the project agreement on behalf of their respective organizations, as announced in an ERD press release on Monday.

The signing was witnessed by Michal Krejza, Head of Development Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Bangladesh, AKM Sohel, Additional Secretary of ERD, Md Saiful Haque Chowdhury, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, along with senior officials from ERD, ILO, TMED, and other relevant government agencies.

The project’s primary goal is to upskill Bangladeshi migrant workers in sectors such as health, engineering, ICT, care, hospitality, construction and agriculture, in line with the skilled labour needs of both Bangladesh and select EU member states.

Additionally, the project aims to establish regular, safe labour migration pathways between Bangladesh and these EU countries.

Through these interventions, the project will contribute to achieving Bangladesh’s Five-Year Plan targets and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goals 4 (Education), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and 10 (Reduced Inequality).