Energy and manpower talk figured in Abu Dhabi

Energy and manpower talk figured in Abu Dhabi
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina came back to the country yesterday (January 19) after her four-day visit to United Arab Emirates. She participated in the fourth World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi which retains much importance for several reasons. On each day of the summit, international policymakers, business leaders, innovators and financiers discussed the issues that matter most to the delegates from sectors such as solar, wind, energy efficiency, biofuels, geothermal and hydropower. The fourth World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi was the world's largest conference and exhibition on renewable and future energy solutions, innovations, investments, policy and vision. It was held at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center and was participated in by more than 25,000 participants from around the world. The summit focused on the theme: Enabling Future Energy Solutions. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also addressed the Heads of State and international delegates at the summit. Actually it is a forum to promote collaboration, innovation and investment opportunities in renewable energy, environment and clean technology.
Bangladesh is one of the most affected countries due to the adverse effects of the climate change, although the developing countries like that of ours are not responsible for it," Sheikh Hasina said her government has taken various programs involving $ 100 million to face the adverse affects of climate change. The programs include capital and maintenance dredging of the country's rivers, forestation, raising green belts in the coastal areas and ensuring food security. It attaches huge importance to Bangladesh . Bangladeshi Prime Minister raised the issue of climate change , necessary steps and raising a common fund in various national and international forums. This time also she did the same. Sheikh Hasina also visited Russia to attend a conference on how to protect the Royal Bengal Tigers of the Sundarbans. She used the tour as an opportunity to discuss Russian help in setting up nuclear energy-based power plant. Bangladesh did well to project its vulnerability to the climate change due to global warming. At all international conferences, including the ones in Copenhagen and Cancun, Bangladesh strongly put its case as a climate change victim; highlighting the people's plight and impediments it posed to achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. In response to Hasina's appeal for the transfer of green technology and new money from the Global Climate Change Fund to enhance the country's adaptive capabilities, developed economies agreed to assist Bangladesh by providing financial and technological assistance. In one way it bears the testimony of success though money has not yet reached Bangladesh.


She urged the United Arab Emirates' government to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh side by side investing in the power and energy sectors of the country. She made the call while holding a meeting with the UAE Vice-President, Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at the VIP lounge of the Dubai international Airport. The Bangladesh premier visited Dubai on an invitation of her UAE counterpart during her stay there on way to Rome to attend the World Summit on Food Security beginning today in the Italian capital. The UAE PM gave assurance to Hasina of his all-out support to the development of Bangladesh including recruitment of more manpower and investing in the power and energy sectors of Bangladesh. During the meeting, issues related to food security, climate change, river dredging, collecting dredgers, health service, development of Chittagong seaport, expansion of trade between Bangladesh and UAE got importance. Sheikh Hasina apprised the UAE premier of the present Bangladesh government's various initiatives in developing power and energy sectors and expressed her firm hope that the UAE would assist Bangladesh. In reply, the UAE ruler assured the Bangladesh premier of providing necessary supports in this regard. While requesting to recruit more manpower from Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina informed the UAE premier that the Bangladesh government has taken initiative to provide sector wise training to the labourers before sending them abroad
Standing on the unprecedented success of the 2010 edition, the four-day Summit program for 2011 was structured around four key themes for the renewable energy industry: policy, business, technology and finance. Hot topics under discussion included building green cities, e-mobility, transforming policy into business opportunities, overcoming the challenges of energy storage and financing future energy projects. WFES 2011 has been designed to be even more flexible than previous years, with delegates able to either attend the whole four-day summit or to choose to attend certain days that are themed around their specific area of interest. Heads of State and Energy Ministers from developed and developing nations discussed the global challenges facing policymakers as they seek to boost energy infrastructure, fuel economic growth, meet environmental goals and provide a sustainable future for their countries.

Sheikh Hasina seized another opportunity in her four-day state visit to Abu Dhabi. Manpower export and trade and investment figured prominently in her talks with the UAE leaders.
She also talked to enhance economic relations between Bangladesh and the UAE a- on promotion and protection of investment, and on avoidance of double taxation.
She held meetings with UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE vice-president, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and other high level leaders and ministers. We need to expand market for Bangladeshi workers in the oil-rich gulf state, UAE As per an official estimate, some 356,102 Bangladeshi workers went to different countries of the world from January to November 30, 2010. Of them, 186,127 skilled and semi-skilled workers went to the UAE. According to the Bureau of Manpower Employment and Training (BMET), some 32,363 Bangladeshi workers went to the UAE in October while the number was 31,835 in November. The figure shows how much importance manpower market we have in the UAE. Recently this potential market has experienced a setback due to various reasons which need to be addressed pragmatically. Considering this perspective, Bangladesh Prime Minister’s visit can be labeled as doubly important.

Md. Masum Billah
Program Manager: BRAC Education Program
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com