Bangladesh envoy urges removing procedural hurdles to meet Greek demand for expats

Greece is in urgent need of migrant workers to sustain its economy but procedural hurdles, including the absence of a visa centre in Bangladesh, has severely constrained the inflow of expatriates from the South Asian Country, said Dhaka’s Ambassador to Greece Nahida Rahman Shumona.

A key challenge is the visa issuance process, which currently requires Bangladeshi applicants to travel to India to obtain the necessary entry visa for Greece, she said while speaking at the Olympia Forum VII, held from 29 September to 1 October at the International Olympic Academy in Ancient Olympia, Greece.

The event focused on the future of agricultural production and the role of international labour mobility.

Shumona stressed that streamlining and reorganizing administrative procedures is essential for a bilateral agreement on migrant flow to function effectively and to meet Greece’s labour market needs.

Referring to the bilateral Greece–Bangladesh agreement on labour mobility, the Ambassador emphasized that the framework allows for the entry of up to 4,000 Bangladeshi workers annually. However, she noted that actual arrivals over the past two years remain significantly lower—fewer than 500 workers—due to procedural obstacles.

It is worth noting that Greece now has the fourth largest ageing population in the European Union, thanks to significantly low birth rates and a brain drain. The upcoming working age population is grossly inadequate to replace the current workforce and feed a swiftly ageing population.

Shumona underscored the global demographic shifts currently reshaping labour markets, noting that the challenge is not unique to Greece but part of a broader international trend. She highlighted that demographic changes create new pressures on labour supply, making structured and efficient labour mobility schemes increasingly important.

The discussion also focused on the skills and training required for workers entering the Greek labour market. Participants agreed that bilateral cooperation should extend beyond mobility to include education, vocational preparation, and skills development, enabling workers to advance professionally and respond to the evolving demands of agricultural production.

Ambassador Shumona reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to working closely with Greek authorities to strengthen cooperation in labour mobility and skills development, noting that education is a cornerstone of sustainable bilateral partnership.

The session concluded that addressing demographic and labour market challenges requires inter state coordination, improved mobility mechanisms, and investment in human capital. In this context, Greece and Bangladesh can develop joint initiatives in labour and education to support agricultural productivity and meet market needs more effectively.

The Olympia Forum 2026 is co organized by the Region of Western Greece, the Municipality of Ancient Olympia, the Green Fund, the Municipality of Pyrgos, KEDE, ENPE, the Chamber of Ilia, and the University of the Peloponnese. The event is held under the auspices of multiple Greek institutions, including the University of Patras, Chamber of Achaia, Hellenic Development Bank, and several ministries.