Prime Minister of Italy has formally invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit Italy to further strengthen the existing friendly relations between the two countries. This message was conveyed to Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen, MP when he held meeting with Manlio De Stefano, Undersecretary of State for Foreign Affairs of Italy in Rome yesterday.
Foreign Minister Dr. Momen, who is on an official trip in Europe, met with Undersecretary Manlio De Stefano at the Italian Foreign Ministry, and at that time the invitation was conveyed. Dr. Momen expressed thanks on behalf of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, informing that the invitation has been received and accepted, and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be happy to visit Italy on official bilateral trip at a mutually convenient date in the near future.
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Dr. Momen informed Italian Undersecretary of State about the initiatives taken by the Government of Bangladesh to attract foreign investment, including the special economic zones, one-stop-service, hi-tech parks, the tax incentives offered for setting up industries etc. He called upon Italian businesses to invest in Bangladesh for win-win situation. At the invitation of Bangladesh Foreign Minister, Undersecretary of State De Stafano agreed to visit Bangladesh in 2020 with a business delegation from Italy.
Foreign Minister also briefed Manlio De Stefano on the Rohingya crisis, and emphasized that the international community needs to put strong pressure on Myanmar for taking back the Rohingyas who have taken shelter in Bangladesh in a safe, dignified and sustainable manner on an urgent basis. Italian Undersecretary of State commended the humanitarian role of Bangladesh in providing shelter to Rohingyas, and informed that the Government of Italy strongly supports the cause of Rohingyas. He assured that Italy, both within the EU and also separately, will keep on pursuing for early resolution of the Rohingya crisis.