Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has urged the authorities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to lift the visa restrictions on Bangladeshi citizens and recruit more workers from the country.

Dr Yunus, who concluded his visit to the UAE on Friday after attending the World Governments Summit in the city of Dubai, invited Emirati companies to relocate their factories in Bangladesh.

Apart from joining the WGS, the Chief Adviser met several UAE ministers on the sidelines of the summit.

Issues of mutual interests, including the visa restrictions on Bangladeshi nationals, the expansion of trade and commerce, UAE businesses plans to invest in Bangladesh's Chittagong Port and deepening sports and education ties were also discussed during the meetings, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder said.

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Dr Yunus also agreed in principle to set up an exclusive industrial park for the UAE businesses after a proposal was made by  UAE Trade  Minister Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.

UAE groups can make Bangladesh a Halal product manufacturing hub, using Bangladesh's low-cost labour, the Chief Adviser told Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi.

The trade minister said he would like to lead a senior trade and investigation delegation to Bangladesh in the coming months.

UAE Sports  Minister Dr Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi saw him off at the Dubai airport as the Chief Adviser took an Emirates flight back home.

Foreign Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Special Envoy of the Chief Adviser Lutfey Siddiqi and senior secretary Lamiya Morshed accompanied the Chief Adviser during the visit.