Bangladesh and Kosovo have mutually agreed to explore a government-to-government (G2G) framework to facilitate the transparent and orderly recruitment of Bangladeshi workers to Kosovo, responding to a rising demand for labor mobility.

Concurrently, both nations are exploring the initiation of a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to deepen economic integration.

These developments emerged from dual diplomatic engagements in Prishtina on Thursday: the second Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) and a dedicated bilateral meeting focused on trade and investment, according to statements from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs received here morning.

During the FOC, the Bangladesh delegation was led by the Foreign Ministry's Secretary (Bilateral-East & West), Dr. M. Nazrul Islam, while the Kosovo side was headed by the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Ilir Muçaj.

Recognizing the increasing need for workforce mobility, both delegations underscored the necessity of establishing a structured and mutually beneficial mechanism for the recruitment of Bangladeshi labor to Kosovo.

They committed to exploring G2G cooperation to ensure migration processes remain transparent and orderly.

Beyond labor, the FOC provided a platform to review the entire scope of bilateral relations.

Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved since diplomatic ties were established and identified substantial untapped potential across sectors including trade, investment, education, agriculture, information and communication technology (ICT), tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

They also emphasized the urgency of concluding ongoing negotiations on economic cooperation and the avoidance of double taxation.

In a separate meeting, Dr. Nazrul Islam held discussions with Kosovo's Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, focusing on leveraging European trade frameworks and initiating a bilateral FTA.

The trade dialogue pinpointed concrete collaborative opportunities, particularly in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and IT.

Bangladesh actively encouraged Kosovo to increase its import of Bangladeshi ready-made garments (RMG), jute products, ceramics, and pharmaceuticals.

Additionally, Dhaka invited Kosovan investors to explore opportunities within Bangladesh's Special Economic Zones and proposed the formation of a Joint Working Group on Trade and Economic Cooperation. To further this initiative, Bangladesh invited a Kosovan private-sector delegation for an exploratory visit.

The discussions also explored enhancing business-to-business networks, including potential partnerships between the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce and the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce, and evaluated the prospects for Bangladeshi companies setting up production facilities within Kosovo.

Minister Kusari-Lila outlined Kosovo's strong investment climate, highlighting its strategic proximity to the European Union, favorable fiscal policies, competitive workforce, and access to the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA).

She noted that Bangladesh could significantly benefit from the regional connectivity available among Western Balkan nations.

On the international front during the FOC, Kosovo commended Bangladesh's historical contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, specifically thanking Bangladeshi peacekeepers who have served in Kosovo.

Conversely, Bangladesh welcomed Kosovo’s expanding role in regional and international organizations, affirming support for its continued multilateral integration.

Kosovo also expressed solidarity with Bangladesh's humanitarian management of the Rohingya crisis, backing Dhaka’s initiatives to ensure the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar.

Furthermore, both countries reaffirmed their unified stance against terrorism, violent extremism, and transnational crime, agreeing to bolster coordination in global forums.

Looking ahead, the two nations agreed to hold their third Foreign Office Consultations in Dhaka in 2027 at a mutually convenient date.

The diplomatic sessions in Prishtina were also attended by Bangladesh Foreign Ministry's Director General (East Europe and CIS) SM Mahbubul Alam and Kosovo's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Lulzim Pllana.