The UAE Foreign Minister stressed elevating bilateral ties to heightened economic partnership. Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud held a bilateral meeting with his UAE counterpart His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in his royal palace in Al Ain city of Abu Dhabi Emirates.
Both the ministers reviewed the whole gamut of existing bilateral cooperation and emphasized exploring new and emerging areas of energy security, food security, environment and climate change, renewable energy, people-to-people contact, etc
At the outset, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister recalled the historic bond of relations between the two brotherly countries laid by the founding Fathers of our two nations.
He appreciated the UAE leadership for the spectacular development and progress that the UAE has made over the last 5 decades and also highlighted the current economic development gains that Bangladesh has achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The two Ministers also discussed the state of bilateral trade and exchanged ideas to further bolster the commercial relations. The Foreign Minister then shed light on the ongoing and prospective investment areas in which the UAE govt and businesses could invest, especially in Matarbari EEZ, port and logistics management, developing the land gifted to Sheikh Zayed in Rangunia, Chittagong. The UAE leader endorsed the comments/ proposals of the Foreign Minister and expressed the eagerness to take forward the ongoing investment and economic issues. He stressed the need to activate the Joint Business Council (JBC) between the business bodies of the two countries and underlined that the signing of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) would be instrumental in enhancing/solidifying economic, trade and investment ties further.
During the meeting, the Foreign Minister handed over an invitation letter addressed to the UAE President from Bangladesh Prime Minister inviting him to visit Bangladesh on the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh- UAE diplomatic ties. The two leaders exchanged views on regional issues including situations about Rohinga refugees and discussed threadbare various issues of the ongoing Gaza war. More importantly, Dr Mahmud reiterated his request to reopen manpower recruitment in all trades, especially skilled professionals, nurses, healthcare technicians, and professionals, as well as company-to-company transfer of visas. The UAE Minister listened with attention and responded positively. Ambassador to the UAE and DG West Asia, Mofa, accompanied the Foreign Minister in the meeting.