DHAKA - Bangladesh has offered to send skilled professionals to Kosovo through a government-to-government arrangement, opening a potential new European employment destination for Bangladeshi workers.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam made the proposal during a bilateral meeting with Kosovo's Minister for Environment and Spatial Planning Fitore Pacolli-Dalipi at the Bangladesh Pavilion of COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, on November 13.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Shama proposed establishing a structured skilled migration partnership to address workforce shortages in Kosovo, enabling qualified Bangladeshi professionals to access employment opportunities in sectors facing manpower shortages.

The Kosovar minister took note of the proposal, although no specific recruitment arrangement or deployment timetable was announced.

The initiative could create opportunities for Bangladesh to diversify its overseas labour markets beyond traditional destinations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

Beyond manpower cooperation, the two sides discussed expanding bilateral engagement through high-level political exchanges, trade delegations and closer institutional cooperation. Recycling, technology transfer, waste management and early warning systems were identified as potential areas of collaboration.

Pacolli-Dalipi highlighted Kosovo's challenges in flood management, water resources and air quality, while Shama shared Bangladesh's experience in flood control and waste management.

Bangladesh's State Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shaikh Faridul Islam and Prime Minister's Special Assistant Dr Md Saimum Parvez attended the meeting.

The Kosovar minister expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh, and Shama extended an invitation for a mutually convenient date.

Highlighting Bangladesh's sustainable products, Shama also presented jute handicrafts and invited her counterpart to visit the country's jute pavilion at COP31.

The proposed skilled migration cooperation signals Bangladesh's continuing efforts to explore new overseas employment opportunities while strengthening its diplomatic and economic engagement with European countries.