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Bangladesh and Kosovo have agreed to explore a government-to-government (G2G) mechanism for the transparent and orderly recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in Kosovo amid growing demand for labour mobility.
The understanding was reached at the second Bangladesh-Kosovo Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), held in Prishtina on Thursday, according to a joint communiqué received in Dhaka on Friday.
Bangladesh’s delegation was led by Foreign Ministry Secretary (Bilateral-East & West) Dr M Nazrul Islam, while Kosovo’s delegation was headed by Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Ilir Muçaj.
Recognising the growing demand for foreign workers, the two sides stressed the importance of establishing a structured framework for the recruitment and employment of Bangladeshi nationals in Kosovo.
They agreed to explore G2G cooperation mechanisms to ensure that labour migration takes place in a transparent, orderly and mutually beneficial manner.
The proposed mechanism could help strengthen institutional oversight of worker recruitment and reduce the risks associated with irregular migration and exploitative recruitment practices.
During the consultations, the two sides reviewed the full range of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction with the progress made since Bangladesh and Kosovo established diplomatic ties.
They identified significant untapped opportunities for cooperation in trade, investment, education, agriculture, information and communication technology, tourism, labour mobility and people-to-people exchanges.
Both sides also stressed the need for early conclusion of agreements currently under negotiation, particularly those concerning economic cooperation and the avoidance of double taxation.
Appreciation for Bangladesh peacekeepers
Kosovo appreciated Bangladesh’s longstanding contribution to United Nations peacekeeping operations and expressed gratitude to Bangladeshi peacekeepers who served in Kosovo.
Bangladesh, in turn, welcomed Kosovo’s growing participation in international and regional organisations and expressed support for its continued integration into international organisations and multilateral mechanisms.
The two sides also discussed regional and international issues of common interest.
Kosovo commended Bangladesh’s humanitarian response to the Rohingya crisis and supported Dhaka’s efforts to ensure the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.
Both countries reaffirmed their opposition to terrorism, violent extremism and transnational crime and agreed to strengthen coordination and cooperation in regional and international forums.
The two sides agreed to hold the third Foreign Office Consultations in Dhaka in 2027 at a mutually convenient date.
The proposed G2G recruitment framework marks a potentially important step in expanding Bangladesh’s labour market beyond its traditional destinations, while providing Kosovo with a more structured channel to meet its demand for foreign workers.