To meet the growing demand in its labor market, Albania has expressed keen interest in recruiting both skilled and unskilled workers from Bangladesh.

The proposal was made by Albanian President Bajram Begaj during a meeting with Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Adviser to the Government of Bangladesh, on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly session held in New York on Thursday.

President Begaj stated, “There is a demand for workers in our country, and several Albanian companies have already applied to recruit workers from Bangladesh.”

He also emphasized the importance of enhancing bilateral cooperation in various sectors, including tourism, and identified Albania’s southern coastline as a promising destination for Bangladeshi tourists.

Welcoming the initiative, Professor Yunus said that Bangladesh’s dynamic and youthful workforce is ready to contribute to Albania’s economic growth. He also called for simplifying the visa process for Bangladeshi nationals, noting that currently, applicants must travel to New Delhi to obtain an Albanian visa.

In response, President Begaj mentioned that Albania is considering the introduction of an e-visa system for Bangladeshi citizens. He also stressed the importance of increasing institutional communication and high-level visits between the two countries.

Asif Nazrul, Adviser to the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, stated that Bangladesh is capable of supplying a diverse labor force, ranging from doctors and nurses to factory and agricultural workers. He highlighted the importance of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to streamline the recruitment process.

President Begaj further noted that Albanian universities are ready to welcome Bangladeshi students under existing international admission schemes.

Senior Secretary for Sustainable Development, Lamia Morshed, was also present at the meeting.