The remark came when the newly appointed Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bangladesh Park Sun-bum presented his credentials to the President at Bangabhaban yesterday.

Welcoming the new Ambassador, Iajuddin said Bangladesh greatly values its friendly and cooperative relations with Korea.

He termed the existing bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Korea as excellent and hoped that it would be further strengthened and deepened in the coming days.

He said Korea is one of the most important development partners of Bangladesh and hoped that the ROK would continue to provide financial and technical assistance for the development of Bangladesh especially in the field of ICT.

He thanked the ROK government for the inclusion of Bangladesh in the list of work-force sending countries under employment permit system.

The president requested the ROK for more investment in the fields of leather goods, gas exploration, tourism, fertiliser, jute and jute goods products.

He appreciated the Korean government for making contribution at the 14th Saarc summit as an observer.

Iajuddin requested the ROK government through the ambassador to take measures for reducing trade imbalance, which is against Bangladesh, by allowing more duty free and concessional tariff for Bangladeshi products to their market.

He mentioned that Bangladesh produces quality pharmaceuticals; garments, melamine, ceramic and leather goods and the ROK might import these products at very competitive prices.

He told the envoy that Bangladesh is endowed with huge population and have experienced teachers, doctors and engineers.

Iajuddin said ROK might utilise Bangladesh's skilled and non-skilled manpower for their development.

He assured the Ambassador of all support and cooperation in discharging his duties in Bangladesh and wished him good health and happiness.

The president, through the envoy, conveyed his greetings to ROK President Roh Moo-hyun and invited him to visit Bangladesh.

He also thanked UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who is from the Republic of Korea.

The ambassador said the relations between ROK and Bangladesh are excellent and would be further strengthened in the future.

He told the president that Korea has invested a huge amount in Bangladesh especially in the exporting processing zones (EPZ). He hailed the government of Bangladesh for giving its decision regarding the EPZ at Chittagong.

The envoy underlined the need for enhancing the exchange of business bodies between the two countries for exploring all avenues of cooperation in the field of trade and commerce.

He requested the government of Bangladesh to further improving the management of receiving and sending manpower to the ROK. He said government to government cooperation is needed in this regard.

Secretary to the president's office Sirajul Islam, Foreign Secretary in-charge Touhid Hossain and concerned officials from both the countries were present on the occasion.