(Seychelles News Agency) - The first Bangladeshi high commissioner to Seychelles was accredited this morning at the State House, as the Asian country seeks to expand its cooperation with the small island country in view of large number of Bangladeshi nationals working there.

High commissioner Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury said that Bangladesh had an interest in developing ties with Seychelles in view of recent developments such as globalisation and advancement in technology, especially information, following his accreditation meeting with Seychelles President James Michel.

The growing number of Bangladeshis working in the construction industry of the rapidly developing Indian Ocean island nation is of the reasons his country has sent him to be accredited, said the high commissioner, who is based in the neighbouring island country Mauritius.

“Seychelles as a country manifests different areas of interest added to the fact that more Bangladeshis are now coming to work here,” said Chowdhury.

“There are around 1,000 Bangladeshi workers here and we are told some of them are not employed under the proper conditions which is causing a problem both for Bangladesh as well as Seychelles. So now that I am accredited to Seychelles, I’ve told the President that I am more than delighted to address this problem because it is one of the priorities for Bangladesh as well as Seychelles,” he said, naming other possible areas of future cooperation between the two countries as climate change and manpower development “where a win-win situation can be developed.”

Chowdry added that other spheres of cooperation are possible, including IT , climate change mitigation and manpower development “where a win-win situation can be developed.”

"Seychelles is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, and in terms of its economic and social development it is the highest in Africa. In terms of human resources development indicator it is better than many advanced countries in the world," added Chowdry.

France, Cuba, China, Russia and Libya have embassies in the Seychelles islands. India, Sri Lanka and the UK have high commissions as well.