Bangladesh eager to meet Sarawak's workforce needs - Deputy High Commissioner

KUCHING, Oct 27  -- Bangladesh is looking forward to meeting Sarawak’s needs for workers in various sectors especially the plantation and this would be done on a government-to-government basis, said its Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia Mohammad Khorshed A Khastagir.

During a courtesy call on Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas at his office at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here today, Mohammad Khorshed said Bangladesh would comply with Malaysia's latest criteria on accepting foreign workers who must have completed the COVID-19 two-dose vaccinations.

"The Bangladesh High Commission office is ready to accommodate the sending of workers. To begin with, we can send about 3,000 workers. Bangladesh has a lot of things to share in the agricultural sector with Sarawak,” he said.

Meanwhile, Uggah said Sarawak needed a lot of workers particularly in the oil palm sector and would certainly welcome more workers to help in the harvesting of the fruits, as the COVID-19 pandemic had brought in many unprecedented challenges to the state, including a shortage of workers.

"On the offer of workers, I will bring this to the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg for further deliberation,” he said, adding that Sarawak also welcomed investors for livestock breeding and modern precision farming in its effort to be a net food and food products exporter by 2030.

Bangladesh High Commission First Secretary Fared Ahmed and Sarawak Deputy State Secretary Datuk Seri Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki were among those present at the courtesy call.

-- BERNAMA