Written by The Banking Post
Migration and trade are set to take centre stage during the Italian Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to Dhaka in late December, marking the first such visit by an Italian head of government in more than two decades.
Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro said on Sunday that the visit will “further consolidate the growing bilateral relations between Italy and Bangladesh,” adding that both countries see strong potential for mutual benefit in migration and trade.
Originally planned for August, the trip was postponed due to pressing domestic issues in Italy and has now been rescheduled for the end of December. Officials from both sides are finalising the agenda, which is expected to reflect the expanding partnership between Dhaka and Rome.
Bangladesh and Italy share a long-standing connection through labour migration, with nearly 200,000 Bangladeshis living and working in Italy — the largest Bangladeshi diaspora community in continental Europe. The envoy said discussions will cover migration management, labour rights, and the regularisation of Bangladeshi workers, as both countries seek a more “orderly, fair, and beneficial” migration system.
Trade and investment will also be high on the agenda. Italy is Bangladesh’s third-largest export destination in the EU, with garments, leather goods, and ceramics leading exports. Italian investments in textiles, renewable energy, and engineering are also on the rise. The visit is expected to pave the way for enhanced cooperation in trade facilitation, investment promotion, and industrial innovation.
Responding to questions from reporters, Ambassador Alessandro confirmed that defence cooperation will feature in the discussions as well. “We are exploring collaboration in security training, technology transfer, and maritime safety,” he said.
Foreign Ministry officials in Dhaka said the upcoming visit is expected to elevate bilateral ties to a strategic level, with new agreements likely to be signed in areas including labour, trade, education, climate resilience, and security.
Observers note that the visit comes at a crucial time, as Bangladesh seeks to diversify its partnerships in Europe and attract greater investment ahead of its graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.
