Diplomatic Correspondent :
In continuation of the warm relation between the two countries Bangladesh and Indonesia on Sunday signed five instruments, including two memorandums of understanding (MoUs), aiming at boosting the bilateral relations in trade and investment, and spreading cooperation in different sectoral level between the two countries.
The deals were inked in presence of visiting Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina after the official talks between the two countries at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Earlier in discussion with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina President Joko Widodo called for peaceful and quick solution to the Rohingya crisis and hoped the repatriation deal signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar will be implemented to resolve the crisis.
Joko Widodo also extended his special appreciation to Bangladesh government for sheltering over one million Rohingya people in the country.
The President visited Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar on Sunday to see for himself the situation of the refugees living in overcrowded shelters.
He assured political support to Bangladesh in the international arena on the Rohingya issue. Jakarta will also continue supporting Bangladesh at the UN and its Human
Rights Council on Rohingya issue, he said.
Later Commerce Minister Tofael Ahmed and Minister of Trade of Indonesia Enggartiasto Lukita signed the joint statement on launching negotiations for Bangladesh-Indonesia preferential trade agreement for both the countries.
The MoU on Establishment Foreign Office Consultations was signed by Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi.
Another MoU on development of the integrated gas infrastructure and independent power producer was signed by Chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board Khaled Mahmud and Vice-President of Power, New and Renewable Energy, Partamina, Indonesia Ginandjar Sofyan.
Fisheries and Livestock Minister Narayan Chandra Chanda and Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi penned the Joint Communique on cooperation to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and promote sustainable fisheries governance.
Secretary of Petro Bangla Syed Ashfaquzzaman and Vice President of Pertamina Wiko Migantoro signed the MoU on a letter of intent between Petro Bangla and Partamina on sales and purchase of LNG Under G2G.
Meanwhile Indonesian national news agency Antara reported that President Joko
Widodo in talks with Bangladesh leaders has expressed Indonesia`s readiness to support Bangladesh efforts to get out of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) status by 2024.
“Indonesia is ready to support achievement of this target, including through enhancement of mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation,” President Jokowi is also reported to have said during a bilateral meeting with Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid at the Bangabhaban on Saturday night. Indonesia also expressed its readiness to open market access to enhance trade cooperation with Bangladesh, Presidential spokesman said on Sunday.
“It will be done through the establishment of Preferential Trade Agreement,” he said.
The two leaders also discussed the situation in Rakhine State.Commitment and high attention will continue to be given by the government and people of Indonesia in order to help overcome the humanitarian crisis; the spokesman is reported to have said. “I also welcome the Bangladesh government’s repatriation agreement with the government of Myanmar, I hope the implementation of the agreement can be voluntary, honorable and safe,” said President Jokowi.
Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid reiterated that Indonesia is close to Bangladesh.
It was the first country to recognize the independence of Bangladesh and Bangladesh people will never forget this gesture, he said. The two leaders agreed that economic cooperation would be a priority for the relations between the two countries.
