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Australia wants more skilled Bangladeshi immigrants
3/10/2006
Australia is willing to train up Bangladeshi nurses and gradually increase the number of skilled Bangladeshi immigrants there, reports UNB .
Australian Immigration and Multicultural Minister Amanda Vanstone Thursday conveyed this to Prime Minister Khaleda Zia during her courtesy call on her at the PM office Thursday.
Vanstone, on her maiden visit to Bangladesh, also discussed enhanced scholarships for Bangladeshi students in Australia.
The Australian minister informed Khaleda that at present there were about 30,000 Bangladeshi immigrants in Australia. The Prime Minister said Australia could take skilled professionals like doctors and engineers from Bangladesh.
In reply, Vanstone, also a senator, told the Prime Minister that Australia is an immigrant country and they are gradually taking skilled professionals from Bangladesh.
During the discussion, both the Bangladesh Prime Minister and the Australian Minister stressed the need for training for better human resource development in Bangladesh.
Khaleda thanked Australia through the Immigrant and Multicultural Minister for their cooperation in tackling the devastating flood in 2004.
Vanstone appreciated the tremendous development of Bangladesh in the education sector, especially the Prime Minister's initiative for female education across the country.
She also informed the Prime Minister about her visit to and meetings with different ministers in Bangladesh.
Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Douglas Foskett and Bangladesh High Commissioner to Australia Ashrafud Dowla were also present on the occasion.
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