Italy PM Meloni to visit Dhaka in December
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to pay a one-day official visit to Dhaka in the third week of December 2025 at the invitation of Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, diplomatic sources in Dhaka and Rome confirmed.
The visit, likely to take place between December 18 and 20, will mark the first-ever trip to Bangladesh by an Italian head of government since the country’s independence in 1971. Both sides are finalising the agenda, which is expected to focus on strengthening cooperation in trade, investment, migration, and social business development.
Diplomatic officials said the visit will highlight Italy’s growing interest in South Asia as part of its broader Indo-Pacific outreach and labour partnership strategy. Rome is planning to hire about 50,000 skilled Bangladeshi workers over the next two years in sectors including construction, hospitality, and agriculture. The initiative is part of Italy’s new migration plan to issue 500,000 work visas for non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, aimed at addressing labour shortages and curbing illegal migration.
Meloni’s visit had initially been scheduled for August 2025 but was postponed due to her involvement in NATO discussions on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
During her Dhaka trip, Meloni is expected to hold bilateral talks with Chief Adviser Yunus and meet senior government officials and business leaders. The discussions will cover expanding trade and investment opportunities, facilitating legal migration, and regularising undocumented Bangladeshi workers currently residing in Italy.
Italy is one of Bangladesh’s key European partners and the sixth-largest export destination, with bilateral trade exceeding $2.2 billion. Ready-made garments dominate exports, followed by leather goods, ceramics, and jute products.
Remittances from Italy also represent a vital source of foreign income for Bangladesh. According to the Bangladesh Bank, Bangladeshi expatriates in Italy sent home $1.65 billion in the fiscal year 2024–25, a notable rise from $1.48 billion in the previous fiscal year.
Officials say the visit could pave the way for a new strategic partnership between Dhaka and Rome, with potential agreements on investment promotion, renewable energy cooperation, and youth skill development under discussion.
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