The United Arab Emirates (UAE) shows its eagerness to supply Covid-19 vaccine to Bangladesh as a Gulf company is now producing the jab, according to officials.
In reply, Dhaka has requested Abu Dhabi to build a joint-venture vaccine plant here for manufacturing and supply in the local market, they told the FE.
The matter was mooted at the Bangladesh-UAE Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting in Dhaka on Monday to settle different bilateral issues.
Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal led the Bangladesh delegation and state minister for foreign affairs and international cooperation Ahmed Ali Al Sayeh the UAE side.
Both of them joined the meeting virtually.
Economic Relations Division (ERD) secretary Fatima Yesmin and officials from relevant ministries were also present at the JEC meeting.
The UAE is the first country in the Arab world that has begun producing Covid-19 vaccine named Hayat-Vax since April this year.
Hayat-Vax is a joint venture between Sinopharm of China and Abu Dhabi's G42.
Last year, G42 joined forces with Sinopharm CNBG to test the first phase-III clinical trial of inactivated vaccines across the region, with over 43,000 volunteers from over 125 nationalities participating.
The new plant is aiming to produce at least 200-million doses of the vaccine per annum.
Around 2.0-million doses have been targeted for production per month in a plant owned by pharmaceutical company Julphar in Ras Al Khaimah until the new facility becomes fully operational.
Bangladesh is struggling with vaccine shortages as it has inoculated only just 20 million out of the total 170-million people.
Dhaka has also requested Abu Dhabi to lift restrictions on work permit and issue employment visa for local labour force, according to the officials who attended the meeting.
It also sought foreign direct investment from the Gulf country in order to enhance economic cooperation between the two nations, they said.
Bangladesh has sought duty-free quota-free access of its products to the UAE market, a senior government official said.
Bangladeshi workers do not get work permit now. They need to go there with visit visa first and then seek permission to join the work.
Dhaka has, therefore, requested Abu Dhabi to lift the restrictions and issue employment visa for all types of Bangladeshi workforce, the official cited.
According to the Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training in Dhaka, the UAE has recruited some 2.37-million Bangladeshi workers until September 2021.
The UAE is one of the key destinations for Bangladeshis, as thousands are working there and sending substantial remittance back home every year.
Dhaka also requests Abu Dhabi to recruit some skilled and semi-skilled manpower like doctors, nurses and IT professionals with intent to expand bilateral cooperation and facilitate technology transfer.
Besides, it wants that the UAE's investment, especially through public-private partnership model, be boosted as some companies in energy and construction sectors there are world-famous, the official added.
Dhaka has sought Abu Dhabi's cooperation in facilitating air passenger and cargo services in Bangladesh.
The two sides have agreed on bilateral cooperation, including trade and economic development, labour and employment, and consular relations, civil aviation, tourism and culture, and increased support of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development.
Other fields of cooperation include power, energy and mineral resources, ICT, education, science and technology, marine environment and development; agriculture, health services and health education, and humanitarian and charitable areas.
