Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday invited the President of South Korea to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time as the two countries moved to deepen bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

The invitation came during a meeting with South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo at the Cabinet Division of the Bangladesh Secretariat, said Prime Minister's Deputy Press Secretary Shahadat Shadhin.

At the meeting, Yeo briefed the Prime Minister on the proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Bangladesh and South Korea, saying the agreement would significantly boost bilateral trade, economic cooperation and South Korean investment in Bangladesh once signed and implemented.

He noted that many South Korean companies are already operating successfully in Bangladesh, while many others are keen to invest in the country in the coming years.

Welcoming greater South Korean investment, Tarique Rahman invited Korean businesses to explore opportunities in Bangladesh's toy, electronics, telecommunications, automobile, semiconductor and shipbuilding industries.

The Prime Minister said South Korea's advanced expertise in shipbuilding, combined with Bangladesh's growing skilled workforce, offered strong potential for cooperation in the sector.

He proposed that South Korea establish training centres in Bangladesh to provide technical and language training for Bangladeshi workers seeking employment in the Korean shipbuilding industry.

Tarique also assured the visiting minister of the government's full support for South Korean companies investing in Bangladesh's shipbuilding sector.

During the meeting, the Bangladesh side informed the minister about plans to organise a seminar involving South Korean companies to showcase new investment opportunities in the country.

The visiting minister was also briefed on the government's ongoing initiatives to improve the investment climate and facilitate foreign investment, the Deputy Press Secretary said.

Yeo Han-koo welcomed Bangladesh's proposals, saying they would further strengthen the longstanding friendship and economic partnership between the two countries.