Press Release on BD Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Australia Visit
Bangladesh High Commission, Canberra | Press Release (30 November 2012)
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between BMET, Bangladesh and TAFE, NSW to upgrade the skills of Bangladeshi Manpower and official launch of Knowledge Remittance Global (KRG) during Australia visit of the Hon’ble Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Engineer Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, MP
The Hon’ble Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Engineer Khandker Mosharraf Hossain, MP visited Australia from 27 to 30 November 2012. During the visit on 28 November 2012 the Hon’ble Minister had a meeting with Department of Education and Communities International NSW Government and South Western Sydney Institute of TAFE NSW and discussed possibilities of education and training partnership opportunities between Bangladesh and Australia. Train the trainers, offshore joint delivery models of cooperation, English language training, skills assessment and recognition etc. was highlighted during the meetings. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), Bangladesh and Technical and Further Education (TAFE), NSW, South Western Sydney Institute (SWSi) for up skilling Bangladeshi manpower. Through this MoU both parties commit to explore and promote areas of mutual interest on vocational education and training through appropriate educational services.
On 29 November 2012 the Hon’ble Minister had a meeting with the Hon Peter Garrett AM, MP, Minister for School Education and Minister for Early Childhood and Youth Australia at the Parliament House in Canberra and had discussion on issues of mutual interests particularly related to Vocational and Technical Education (VET). The Australian Minister appreciated Bangladesh Government for signing MoU with TAFE, NSW and in this regard assured of any kind of support from his department as well as the Australian government. This meeting followed by another meeting with the Hon Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Australia at the Parliament House in Canberra. The Hon’ble Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment briefed him about the activities of the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment and highlighted the various efforts and initiatives taken by the present democratic government led by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina that have contributed to improving the situation of expatriates’ worker by ensuring their welfare. The Hon’ble Minister also pointed out issues of Bangladesh’s mutual interests in vocational education and training with the cooperation of TAFE, NSW to upgrade skills of Bangladeshi manpower and employment of more Bangladeshi skilled workers in Australia. The Australian Immigration Minister praised Bangladesh Government’s current initiatives of up skilling Bangladeshi manpower in joint collaboration with the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment, Technical and Further Education (TAFE), NSW and Department of Education and Communities (DEC) International and offered assistance of the Australian government if required. The Hon Chris Bowen MP also recognised the contribution of expatriate Bangladesh community to various socio-economic sectors of Australia. Bangladesh delegation also requested the Australian Immigration Minister to lower the assessment level for students desiring to undertake studies in VET from Level 4 to Level 3 and to employ Bangladeshi professionals in regions with skill shortage as Bangladesh has a good number of highly skilled and experienced professionals. During the meeting the Hon’ble Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment was assisted by H.E. Lieutenant General Masud Uddin Chowdhury, High Commissioner for Bangladesh; Dr. Zafar Ahmed Khan, Secretary, Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment; Begum Shamsun Nahar, Director General, Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
In the evening the Hon’ble Minister for Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment interacted with expatriate Bangladesh Community living in Australia, shared their experiences and replied their various queries. During the interactive session the Hon’ble Minister officially launched the web-site of Knowledge Remittance Global (KRG) which is the international gateway to support Bangladeshi expatriates’ by providing a formal platform, direction and local logistics to donate their knowledge in Bangladesh. At the end the Hon’ble Minister noted that the present government under the dynamic leadership of the Honourable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has taken various measures to serve the needs of the expatriate Bangladesh communities and if we can send workers with proper training and skill worldwide acceptability of our workers will be ensured.
