Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh H.E. Susan Ryle paid a courtesy call on Foreign Secretary Ambassador Asad Alam Siam at the Foreign Ministry.
During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on issues of mutual interest including trade, investment promotion, energy cooperation, migration, visa facilitation, support for technical and vocational training.
Foreign Secretary thanked the Australian Government for relocating visa processing center in Dhaka. He emphasized enhanced collaboration between Bangladesh’s Technical Training Centers (TTCs) and Australia’s Technical and Further Education (TAFE) in skill development and language training for Bangladeshi youths by sending Australian instructors to Bangladesh. He conveyed Bangladesh’s growing demand for Australian commodities and shared that Australia could explore that market further.
He also requested Australian envoy to award more scholarships to Bangladeshi students, and to promote regular migration from Bangladesh to Australia. In response, the Australian envoy expressed satisfaction over the signing of SOP to address illegal migration between Bangladesh and Australia. She conveyed Australia’s readiness to forge enhanced cooperation in all areas of mutual interest. Praising Bangladesh’s commitment to multilateralism, the Australian envoy conveyed Australia’s willingness for continued engagement with Bangladesh in regional and multilateral forums. She also assured of Australia’s active support for early repatriation of the Rohingyas to their homeland.