B’deshi High Commissioner discusses need for FTA with SL

Mentioned need to sign coastal shipping agreement and cooperation in pharmaceutical sectors

Newly appointed Bangladeshi High Commissioner Tareq Md Ariful Islam has discussed about the issues of enhancing bilateral trade, concluding bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTA), enhancing shipping connectivity, signing of coastal shipping agreements, investment promotion, and cooperation in pharmaceutical sectors, a statement from the High Commission said.  
 He discussed it when he met with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa after presenting credentials.   

The statement said, “High Commissioner Tareq appreciated President Gotabaya Rajapaksa for leading the country to greater socio-economic developments as well as for effectively dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. Referring to the excellent bilateral relations existing between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and the multitude of commonalities, the High Commissioner expressed his commitment to work for further strengthening the ties between the two countries. He solicited the support of the host government in this regard. High Commissioner Tareq shared with the President the tremendous socio-economic developments that Bangladesh has achieved under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. He also discussed about the issues of enhancing bilateral trade, concluding bilateral FTA, enhancing shipping connectivity, signing of coastal shipping agreement, investment promotion, cooperation in pharmaceutical sectors etc.  

Felicitating the High Commissioner for assuming his responsibility, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa reciprocated the greetings to the Bangladesh President and Prime Minister and thanked them for the invitation extended to him. He shared his country’s experience in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic and spoke about increasing cooperation between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka particularly in the areas of agriculture, agro-based products, regional tourism, investment promotion, ICT, high tech industry and education,”.