Online Desk: Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has called upon expatriate Bangladeshis to invest in the country as Bangladesh has enough attractive sectors for foreign investment.

Mr Momen said his ministry is working to facilitate investment of the expatriate Bangladeshis.

Requesting them to send remittances, the minister also said that although Bangladeshis work as professionals in different countries, remittances mostly come from workers.

Citing example of other countries, he also said that Bangladesh is far ahead in sending workers, but lags behind in receiving remittances.

The foreign minister was delivering his speech at an event to mark the National Expatriates Day on Saturday at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the capital. Nationally this day has been observed for the first time in the country.

Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment organised the programme with the theme “Probashir Kalyan, Morzada- Amader Ongikar, Smart Bangladesh Goray Tarao Soman Ongshidar (Welfare and dignity of the expatriates- our commitment, they have equal share in development of Smart Bangladesh”.

A total of 70 expatriate Bangladeshis were awarded as commercially important persons (CIPs) at the programme.

They received the awards in three categories, namely: direct investment by expatriate Bangladeshis in industries, the top remittance sender by formal channel, and import of Bangladeshi products by expatriate Bangladeshis.

Apart from this, scholarship money was distributed for the education of children of migrant workers.

Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Imran Ahmad presided over the programme.

He said Bangladesh has set record in sending manpower in the past few years, but it has not been reflected in the country’s inward remittance properly.

According to him, more than 1.2 million workers have gone to different job destination countries, so far this year.

He expressed the hope that Bangladesh would set another record next year in terms of sending workers.

“But there is no alternative to sending skilled workers to increase the flow of remittances. A concerted effort must be made to produce skilled workers and send them abroad.”

The Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) should be proactive in creating market for skilled workers, he added.

Masud Bin Momen, senior secretary at the foreign ministry, Ahmed Munirus Saleheen, senior secretary at the expatriates’ welfare ministry, Mohammad Abul Basher, president of the BAIRA, among others, were present at the programme.