On 09 September 2025 (Tuesday), UCEP Bangladesh had the honor of hosting a high-level delegation from the European Union (EU) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) at its Head Office in Dhaka, as part of the DG HOME mission to Bangladesh.
The visit highlighted the progress of the Talent Partnership Project, facilitated dialogue with UCEP leadership, and engaged trainees, employers, and sectoral stakeholders. The delegation reaffirmed EU and ILO’s commitment to promoting safe, regular, and skilled migration through demand-driven skills development.
The delegation from European Union named Ms. Jurate Smalskyte Merville, Counsellor, Team Leader, Education, Human Development & Public Finance Management, Mr. Samuel Simon Pulido, Head of the Migration Section, Migration & Forced Displacement, Ms. Barbara Benuskova, Policy Coordinator, Talent Partnerships, DG Migration and Home Affairs, Mr. Nurul Quader, Programme Manager, Migration, Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, and ILO delegations; Ms. Lotte Kejser, Chief technical Adviser, Skills-21 & Talent Partnership Projects, Mr. Anisuzzaman, Senior Programme Officer, Skills-21 & Talent Partnership Projects, Ms. Farhana Alam, Sr. Communication Officer, Skills-21 & Talent Partnership Projects.
The delegation was warmly received by Dr. Md. Abdul Karim, Executive Director of UCEP Bangladesh. During the discussions with the EU and ILO team, Engr. Mohd. Abdul Mannan, Director, Programme and Innovation, Ms. Nazmun Nahar, Director, Finance & Compliance, Mr. A.M.M Mohasin, Director, People and Administration, Mr. Abu Saleh Mohammed Ferdous Khan, Director, Public Partnership Management, Mr. Subinoy Dutta, Deputy Director, resource Mobilization and Communications, Mr. Joy Prakash Barua, Deputy Director, Program & Innovations, joined the session.
UCEP Bangladesh presented its organizational journey and shared progress on the Talent Partnership Project, launched in August 2025 with EU’s financial support and ILO’s technical assistance. Current and upcoming training areas include Electrical Installation & Maintenance, Food & Beverage Services, Food & Beverage Production, General Caregiving, and Automotive Mechanics. The program also integrates Italian & English language training, soft skills development, and pre-departure orientation.
Delegates visited UCEP’s trades in Food & Beverage Production, Automotive Mechanics, Electrical Installation & Maintenance, and General Caregiving, where they directly interacted with trainees. They praised the state-of-the-art facilities and the motivation of learners aspiring to decent overseas employment.
Employers and recruiting agencies such as EduQuest, NU Global Limited, Agora Limited, CP Dhaka, and BIHS General Hospital participated in a roundtable. Discussions focused on the growing demand for Bangladeshi workers abroad, especially in hospitality and healthcare, and the importance of sustained government facilitation for overseas job placements.
The visit concluded with a shared commitment to strengthen collaboration under the Talent Partnership Project to expand opportunities for Bangladeshi youth in global labor markets.