Italy is Bangladesh’s most important development partner within EU: Home minister

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed has said that Italy is Bangladesh’s most important development partner within the European Union (EU), noting that there are extensive areas of cooperation between the two countries, including safe migration.

He said, “Bangladeshis living in Italy play a significant role in the country’s economic development through remittance inflows. For this reason, Bangladesh gives special importance to its relations with Italy and seeks not only to maintain but also to further strengthen bilateral ties in the near future.”

The minister made the remarks during a meeting with the Ambassador of Italy to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro, at his office at the Ministry of Home Affairs in the Bangladesh Secretariat today (21 April).

At the beginning of the meeting, the minister welcomed the ambassador, while the envoy congratulated him on assuming his new portfolio.

During the meeting, the ambassador said that Italy is interested in maintaining and expanding bilateral relations.

Antonio said, “The current Italian government is committed to ensuring safe migration and preventing irregular migration, and migration remains a priority issue for the country.”

He further said that a new migration policy will come into effect in Italy from June, which will facilitate safe migration and make the repatriation process for irregular migrants faster and easier.

The ambassador also noted that a “Joint Working Group” between Bangladesh and Italy on safe migration, bilateral labour markets, and the deployment of skilled workers met in Bangladesh in July last year.

Antonio said, “The next meeting of the group will be held in Italy.”

During the meeting, the ambassador handed over a congratulatory letter from the Italian interior minister to the home minister and extended an invitation for him to visit Italy.

The minister informed him that he would visit Italy at a convenient time this year.

The meeting included detailed discussions on law and order and security issues, safe migration, the Joint Working Group meeting, economic cooperation, and the expansion of trade and business, along with other matters of mutual interest.