Bangladesh, Kosovo seek cooperation on labour migration

Bangladesh and Kosovo have agreed to strengthen cooperation in labour migration, with Dhaka urging Pristina to recruit more skilled and semi-skilled Bangladeshi workers to meet Kosovo’s growing workforce demands.

The development came during a courtesy call paid by Kosovo Ambassador to Bangladesh Lulzim Pllana on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at the foreign ministry on Wednesday.

During the meeting, State Minister Shama highlighted Bangladesh’s demographic advantage, noting that around 65 percent of the country’s population is under the age of 35, positioning Bangladesh as a sustainable source of skilled manpower for the global labor market. She specifically requested Kosovo to recruit Bangladeshi workers in key sectors, including infrastructure development, elderly care services, technical trades, and other professional occupations.

The timing of this cooperation is significant, as Kosovo is currently facing a departure of its local workforce while simultaneously witnessing an increasing presence of foreign workers, including those from Bangladesh and other Asian countries, according to social issues expert Vebi Mujku.

Beyond labor migration, the two sides discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, including strengthening diplomatic relations, expanding trade and investment, enhancing cooperation in education, defense, and deepening engagement in international organisations.

The state minister also urged easier visa procedures for Bangladeshi nationals traveling for studies, employment, business, tourism, youth and sports exchanges, and cultural activities. She further called on Kosovo to facilitate the enrollment of more Bangladeshi students in Kosovan universities through scholarships, fellowships, and grants.

On the trade front, Shama urged Kosovo to import high-quality Bangladeshi products, including readymade garments, pharmaceuticals, furniture, plastic goods, ships, jute, and leather products.

Responding positively, Ambassador Pllana described Kosovo as a “gateway to Europe and the Balkans” and expressed interest in deeper collaboration in manpower recruitment, vocational training, and private-sector partnerships. He also recalled Bangladesh’s contribution to peacekeeping in Kosovo under the UN Interim Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in 1999, describing it as a strong foundation for continued bilateral goodwill.

Bangladesh established diplomatic relations with Kosovo in 2018. Both sides agreed that expanding cooperation in skilled migration, education exchange, and workforce mobility would significantly strengthen bilateral relations while creating new economic opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in Europe.