Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni yesterday stressed the need for migration of Bangladeshi workers in legal ways.

She said this at a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“Bangladeshi workers are doing very well here. They have enough credibility. I don’t want illegal workers,” she was quoted as saying by  Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen.

On her arrival at Palazzo Chigi, the Italian PM’s office, Hasina was received by Meloni.

Issues including undocumented Bangladeshi expatriates, bilateral trade and business came up during the discussion.

The Italian side said they don’t want illegal Bangladeshis to stay there as locals don’t want it. “They opened the door for Bangladesh to send manpower in legal ways,” said Momen.

Hasina said both documented and undocumented Bangladeshis are working for the welfare of the two countries. But, she said, Bangladesh discourages illegal migration.

Noting that her government is developing 100 economic zones and 39 hi-tech parks in Bangladesh, Hasina asked Italy to invest there.

Hasina also asked Italy to ease import process of leather goods from Bangladesh. In response, the Italian side showed interest.

Meanwhile, two instruments were exchanged in presence of the two PMs.

The documents — a memorandum on energy cooperation and a five-year cultural exchange programme — were exchanged between Momen and Antonio Tajani, Italian deputy PM, also the foreign minister.

Under the MoU on energy cooperation, Italy will extend research support and investment on LNG and renewable energy.

Earlier, three Italian ministers met Hasina on the sidelines of the UN Food Systems Summit at the headquarters of FAO in Rome. They also spoke about recruiting manpower from Bangladesh.

The three Italian ministers are Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida, Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi and Justice Minister Carlo Nordio.

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