President urges stronger Bangladesh-Pakistan trade and education ties
The president said Pakistan is an important partner of Bangladesh in various sectors and that expanding bilateral trade and economic activities would benefit people in both countries.
President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir today (13 September) called for stronger cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan in trade, investment, air connectivity, education, training and other areas of mutual interest.
He made the call when Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider paid a courtesy call on the president at Bangabhaban.
During the meeting, the high commissioner reiterated an invitation from Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari for Mirza Fakhrul to visit Pakistan. The president thanked him for the invitation and invited his Pakistani counterpart to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time.
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The president said Pakistan is an important partner of Bangladesh in various sectors and that expanding bilateral trade and economic activities would benefit people in both countries.
He stressed the need to increase contacts between businesses and entrepreneurs and explore new trade opportunities.
Mirza Fakhrul said Pakistani ready-made garments, particularly women's clothing, are popular in Bangladesh. He called for exploring opportunities to import Pakistani garments, cotton yarn and other products while working towards a more balanced trade relationship.
The Pakistani high commissioner said a trade fair featuring Pakistani products would be held in Dhaka in October and invited Bangladesh to organise a similar fair in Pakistan featuring Bangladeshi products.
He also said Pakistani entrepreneurs were interested in joint ventures to manufacture footballs and other sports equipment.
Referring to the resumption of direct air connectivity between Dhaka and Karachi this year, Imran Haider said the service was helping boost bilateral trade, medical tourism and people-to-people contacts. He stressed the need to increase the number of flights.
The high commissioner praised the quality of Bangladeshi tea and called for increasing tea exports to Pakistan by taking advantage of the existing duty-free facility in the Pakistani market.
The president said there was also significant potential to increase exports of Bangladeshi ceramics, betel leaves, agricultural products, pharmaceuticals and other quality goods to Pakistan.
He stressed the need for closer communication between relevant authorities and business communities in both countries to realise these opportunities.
Imran Haider said Pakistan attaches great importance to its relations with Bangladesh and is working to strengthen bilateral trade, investment and cooperation.
The president also emphasised expanding training exchanges between members of the two countries' armed forces and civil administrations, as well as opportunities for higher education in science, engineering, technology and medicine.
The high commissioner sought the president's cooperation in carrying out his diplomatic responsibilities in Bangladesh.
Mirza Fakhrul assured him of full cooperation and expressed hope that increased trade, education, culture, training and people-to-people contacts would make bilateral relations more productive and multifaceted.
Senior officials from the President's Office, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant government agencies were present at the meeting.
