Dubai, Feb 14 (V7N) — Chief Advisor Professor Muhammad Yunus concluded his visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Friday after attending the prestigious World Government Summit (WGS) in Dubai.

UAE Minister of Sports, Dr. Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, bid him farewell at Dubai Airport as he departed for home on an Emirates flight.

During his visit, the Chief Advisor engaged in discussions with several UAE ministers on the sidelines of the summit, addressing key issues of mutual interest. Topics included visa restrictions on Bangladeshi citizens, expansion of trade and commerce, potential UAE investments in Chittagong Port, and strengthening bilateral cooperation in sports and education.

Professor Yunus urged the UAE authorities to lift visa restrictions on Bangladeshi citizens and increase the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers. He also invited Emirati companies to relocate their factories to Bangladesh, emphasizing the country’s potential as a production hub.

In a significant development, UAE Minister of Commerce Thani bin Ahmed Al Zayed proposed the establishment of a special industrial park for UAE businesses in Bangladesh, to which the Chief Advisor agreed in principle. The commerce minister also highlighted the potential of UAE-led industrial clusters to transform Bangladesh into a global hub for halal product manufacturing, leveraging the country's affordable labor market.

To explore investment opportunities further, the UAE commerce minister expressed his intention to lead a senior trade delegation to Bangladesh in the coming months.

The Chief Advisor was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Adviser Towhid Hossain, Special Envoy Lutfe Siddiqui, and Senior Secretary Lamia Morshed during the visit. He is expected to arrive back in Bangladesh this evening.

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