Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has asked South Korea to help develop and invest in high-value manufacturing sectors in Bangladesh like automobile, telecommunication, semiconductor, ships and toys.

The PM made the call during a meeting with South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-Koo at the Cabinet Division in the Secretariat on Monday afternoon.

On his part, Yeo Han-Koo informed Tarique about the progress made on the road to signing the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Once effective, the deal would significantly expand economic collaboration, and trade between the two countries, while attracting huge Korean investment into Bangladesh, Yeo Han-Koo said.

Many South Koran companies are already doing business smoothly in Bangladesh, and many more are interested to commit investment, the Korean minister said.

Tarique urged Korea to invest in Bangladesh shipbuilding industry, noting that the government is ready to provide necessary policy support to the potential investors.

The PM noted that South Korea is a major shipbuilding nation, and Bangladesh has a huge and promising working age population.

The two can lend each other’s different potentials for mutual benefits, the PM highlighted.

If Seoul wishes, it can set up shipbuilding training centres in Bangladesh, and recruit freshly trained workers in South Korea, Tarique told the Korean trade minister.

Tarique informed the Korean trade minister about the BNP government’s initiatives for building an investment-friendly climate inside Bangladesh.

Yeo Han-Koo said the BNP government’s steps would further strengthen bilateral ties.