Photo: Courtesy
Metropolis Report –
Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Imran Ahmad said that Bangladesh will continue exploring the overseas labour market in Oman as the Gulf economy has started overcoming the impact of Covid-19 with the launching of different development projects involving several billion US dollars.
He said this while speaking at a reception marking Sultanate of Oman’s 52nd National Day celebration at a city hotel last week
Imran Ahmad said that Oman is hosting around 700,000 Bangladeshis to work in the Sultanate who are actively contributing to the socio-economic development of both the countries.
Bangladesh exported a total of 135,481 workers (15.49 per cent of total employment) during the January-September period of the current calendar year, 2022. Bangladesh, however, exported a total of 874,739 workers to different countries during the current calendar year, according to the statistics of the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).
The share of employment in Oman shot up to 15.49 per cent of the total employment during the first nine months of the current calendar year as against 8.91 per cent of the last calendar year, according to the data of BMET
According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET), Bangladesh exported a total of around 1712,431 million workers to Oman during the period of 1976-2021, sharing 11.80 per cent of the country’s total manpower export to overseas markets during the same period.
“Oman is an important labour market to Bangladeshi expats and this country will also continue to remain vibrant this year as the Gulf country has started implementing a number of development projects,” Imran Ahmad said.
Quoting Omani policy-makers and top business leaders, he said: “Oman recalls the role of expatriate Bangladeshis in the development process of the Gulf country over the years.”
KSA is the largest labour market for Bangladeshi expats as of now. The country exported 46,68,542 workers to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the 1976-2021 period, sharing 34.3% of the total labour market.
Oman exports to Bangladesh stood at US$93.02 Million during 2021, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade. Oman Exports to Bangladesh – data, historical chart and statistics – was last updated in November of 2022. In contrast, Bangladesh’s export to Oman stood at US$11.51 million during 2021, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.
Laying emphasis on diversification of the export basket, he said Bangladesh can penetrate in the Gulf market catering to the taste of Omanis .
The current population of Oman is 5,360,369 as of November 09, 2022, based on interpolation of the latest United Nations data. The population of Oman is projected at 5,223,375 or 5.223 million as of July 1, 2021. The total population in Oman is projected at 5,106,626 or 5.107 million people for the year 2020.
The minister also said “Bangladesh and Oman enjoy excellent bilateral relations. The relationship has been ever increasing since the inception of diplomatic ties in 1974 with Oman recognizing Bangladesh as an Independent state. Our relations are grounded on the principles of fraternity, shared belief, values, and marked by convergence of positions and commonality of interests on major global issues in the global forum,”
Two countries have forged mutual cooperation in the employment sector, in trade and commerce, investment and energy, education and culture. “
“Dhaka and Muscat will explore and expand joint collaboration in the new and emerging areas including agriculture, climate change, SMEs entrepreneurship, IT and so on. To draw the cooperative outline in these areas, we have the guiding visions ; Omani vision of 2040 and Vision-2041 of Bangladesh,” the minister said.
The minister added, “We hope that this cooperation will continue and will be further expanded in future.”
Praising the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Oman Ambassador in Dhaka Abdul Ghaffar Al Balushi said that Bangladesh is on course to become a developing country in 2026.
The Oman diplomat lauded the role of the present government under the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in uplifting the living standard of the people and the country’s economic status.
“ Oman and Bangladesh each have a long and rich history, and both countries are determined—being modern nation states–to march forward in the development of their economies and human resources,’ he said.
The year 2020 was an extremely challenging year, with the onset of the Covid pandemic, and the resulting economic crisis, all countries had to take exceptional measures—-to mitigate the social, political and economic effects of the pandemic.
However, the year 2020 was uniquely challenging to Oman as Sultan Qaboos bin Said passed away that year.
Sultan Haithem bin Tariq was named his successor.
The Oman diplomat said that the late Sultan built the foundation of what we call in Oman the “blessed renaissance”, a march of nation building and development that spanned 50 years from 1970 to 2020.
Ushering a new era of “ Renewed Renaissance”, which embodies all major tenets and principles laid down by the late Sultan– in dealing with domestic and foreign affairs– Sultan Haithem bin Tariq injected a futuristic vision titled “Oman 2040” which aims to revitalize and diversify the national economy, he said
“As Oman marches forward with its renewed renaissance, we are cognizant of the great achievements of Bangladesh in all fields of developments. Inspired by the vision of the Founding Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujiur Rahman, combined with decades of hard work and sacrifices by the people of Bangladesh, and enlightened stewardship and leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh, Bangladesh will continue to sustain steady economic growth in the coming years.
