Diplomatic Desk:
A high-level delegation from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) visited two leading industrial enterprises in Chattogram as part of a four-day visit to Bangladesh. Led by Dr. Bärbel Kofler, Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, the delegation toured the PHP Shipbreaking and Recycling Yard and Abul Khair Steel Melting Limited.
During the visit, members of the delegation engaged with officials from both companies to discuss key issues within the industrial sector. The discussions focused, in particular, on worker safety, social protection, skills development, and compliance with environmental regulations—all of which are considered vital for maintaining the international competitiveness of Bangladeshi industries in the European market.
Furthermore, the delegation and the management of PHP agreed to collaborate on the introduction of ‘Employment Injury Insurance’ to ensure protection and compensation for workers in the event of workplace accidents. This initiative is being planned based on the experience gained from a successful pilot project implemented in Bangladesh’s Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector with the support of German development cooperation.
