Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina said the government would take measures to introduce quality pearl farming massively in the country, as it is likely to open a new avenue for economic expansion, reports UNB.

She made the remark when Ambassador of the Philippines in Dhaka Zenaida Tacorda Rabago paid a courtesy call on her at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Wednesday.

Prime Minister's Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed newsmen after the meeting.

Sheikh Hasina said the last Awami League (AL) government took some steps for developing pearl farming in Bangladesh.

As the Philippines has a durable success in nursing profession and agriculture, Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh and the Philippines could share experience in these sectors.

The PM informed the Ambassador that the present government would provide modern training, including in language, to the nurses in the country and has a plan to send them to various countries.

In reply, Zenaida Tacorda assured the PM of providing Bangladesh with necessary training facilities for nurses, including modern language courses.

They also discussed matters of democracy of the two countries and South-South cooperation, bilateral assistance for development of the country's agricultural and cultural sectors.

The PM and the Philippine envoy had talks about eradicating poverty and the ways of facing the increasing impacts of the global climate change.

They expressed the hope that the friendly relations between the two countries would be strengthened further in the days to come.

Zenaid Tacorda handed PM Hasina an invitation letter from Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroya to visit their country.

The PM accepted the invitation and reciprocated by inviting Gloria to visit Bangladesh at her convenient time.

Principal Secretary to the PM Md Abdul Karim and PM's Office Secretary Mollah Waheeduzzaman were present.