UNB, Dhaka :
Bangladesh and Myanmar are currently considering a proposal on Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) which, if implemented, will help improve the bilateral trade, said Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Sunday.
Myanmar, a gateway to connect South Asia with Asean countries in the Southeast and East Asia, has recently started opening up to foreign investments and thus Bangladesh may also look for suitable investment opportunities in Myanmar, he said.
The Foreign Minister was addressing an international symposium at Dhaka University Senate Bhaban in the city.
Mahmood Ali also said both the countries are working on the visit of his Myanmar counterpart to Bangladesh soon for the first meeting of the Joint Commission formed during the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s visit to Myanmar in 2011.
“Both the countries are optimistic to elevate the bilateral relationship to a new height through mutual visits of the two leaderships,” he added.
The Foreign Minister said there is also significant potential for bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.
PM’s Energy AdviserTawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury visited Myanmar in early February and proposed a number of areas for cooperation, including importing gas from Myanmar to produce electricity in Bangladesh and then sharing the electricity with Myanmar. Myanmar welcomed the proposals.
The power and energy sector cooperation has opened a new window of opportunity for strengthening of bilateral relations, Mahmood Ali said.
Another important area of cooperation is the proposed road connectivity that between the two countries and beyond, he said.
According to the decision of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in 2014, Bangladesh has now prepared and forwarded texts of three draft MoUs/Agreements to establish formal mechanism of regular dialogue on security issues and maintain peaceful border, said Mahmood Ali.
Dhaka University, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Research and Development Collective and India-Bangladesh Foundation jointly arranged the event, titled ‘Bangladesh’s Engagement with India and Bangladesh’, at DU Senate Bhaban with DU VC Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique in the chair.
Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran, Myanmar Ambassador in Dhaka Myo Myint Than and Chairman, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies Dr Sitaram Sharma, among others, spoke at the inaugural session.
Bangladesh and Myanmar are currently considering a proposal on Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) which, if implemented, will help improve the bilateral trade, said Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Sunday.
Myanmar, a gateway to connect South Asia with Asean countries in the Southeast and East Asia, has recently started opening up to foreign investments and thus Bangladesh may also look for suitable investment opportunities in Myanmar, he said.
The Foreign Minister was addressing an international symposium at Dhaka University Senate Bhaban in the city.
Mahmood Ali also said both the countries are working on the visit of his Myanmar counterpart to Bangladesh soon for the first meeting of the Joint Commission formed during the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s visit to Myanmar in 2011.
“Both the countries are optimistic to elevate the bilateral relationship to a new height through mutual visits of the two leaderships,” he added.
The Foreign Minister said there is also significant potential for bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.
PM’s Energy AdviserTawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury visited Myanmar in early February and proposed a number of areas for cooperation, including importing gas from Myanmar to produce electricity in Bangladesh and then sharing the electricity with Myanmar. Myanmar welcomed the proposals.
The power and energy sector cooperation has opened a new window of opportunity for strengthening of bilateral relations, Mahmood Ali said.
Another important area of cooperation is the proposed road connectivity that between the two countries and beyond, he said.
According to the decision of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held in 2014, Bangladesh has now prepared and forwarded texts of three draft MoUs/Agreements to establish formal mechanism of regular dialogue on security issues and maintain peaceful border, said Mahmood Ali.
Dhaka University, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Research and Development Collective and India-Bangladesh Foundation jointly arranged the event, titled ‘Bangladesh’s Engagement with India and Bangladesh’, at DU Senate Bhaban with DU VC Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique in the chair.
Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran, Myanmar Ambassador in Dhaka Myo Myint Than and Chairman, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies Dr Sitaram Sharma, among others, spoke at the inaugural session.
