Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday urged Spain to increase trade and investment in Bangladesh to help in economic recovery after years of plundering during the ousted autocratic regime.
He made the request when Spanish Ambassador to Bangladesh Gabriel Sistiaga met him at his office in Tejgaon, Dhaka.
The envoy wanted to know if Spain could support Bangladesh's interim government anyway in its reform initiatives using its own experience.
The Chief Adviser thanked Spain for the offer and said Bangladesh would welcome any support from the country in reforms that the interim government was trying to make in some of the vital areas.
He underlined the areas of cooperation, including investment in the healthcare sector and infrastructural development for Bangladesh Railway.
"Spain can support us in many ways. It can bring more investment here and expand imports of our garment products," Prof. Yunus told the ambassador during the meeting.
"Also, getting some support from Spain in our development sector will help," he said. Noting that currently some 60,000 Bangladeshis are working in Spain, the Chief Adviser urged Spain to hire more manpower from Bangladesh, both in technical and non-technical sectors.
Ambassador Sistiaga handed Prof. Yunus a letter from Spanish President Pedro Sanchez congratulating him on assuming the role of the head of Bangladesh's interim government.
He also conveyed the Spanish President's invitation to the Chief Adviser to visit Spain during the International Conference on Financing for Development to be held in the country from June 30 to July 3, 2025.
Prof. Yunus requested the ambassador convey his greetings to Queen Sofia of Spain and recalled his fond memories with her during her several visits to Bangladesh.
He also invited her to visit Bangladesh again.
