The Italian government would organise a special initiative next month to provide language and skills-based training to aspiring recruits from Bangladesh, Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro said in a meeting with PM’s Adviser Mahdi Amin on Tuesday.

Under the programme, interested candidates will receive Italian language instruction, training on Italian civic culture and social customs, and the practical and technical skills required for employment, the Italian envoy told Mahdi Amin at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tejgaon.

The initiative will ultimately facilitate job placements in Italy, he added.

Welcoming the initiative, Mahdi Amin said that sending skilled workers to the international labour market and ensuring third-language education for young people were among Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s top priorities.

He expressed hope that the training programme would help develop a skilled workforce and further strengthen the economic ties between the two countries.

The two sides also held detailed discussions on expanding opportunities for legal migration by discouraging irregular routes and making the Italian visa application process more accessible to Bangladeshi students, including increasing the number of visas available to them.

It was noted that approximately 250,000 Bangladeshi nationals currently live permanently and with a good reputation in Italy, and that their remittances make a significant contribution to Bangladesh’s foreign exchange earnings.

To this end, close people-to-people ties between the two countries were emphasised during the meeting.

The Italian ambassador highly praised Bangladesh’s responsible and distinguished role in United Nations peacekeeping missions in promoting global peace. Highlighting the mutual partnership between the two countries, he reiterated their commitment to working together as trusted friends and partners in addressing any problems, challenges or emerging opportunities.

Federico Zamparelli, deputy head of mission at the Italian Embassy in Dhaka, was also present as part of the Italian delegation during the meeting.