President urges strengthening trade and education ties with Pakistan

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for further strengthening cooperation with Pakistan in various areas of mutual interest, including trade, commerce and investment, air connectivity, education and training.

He made the call during a courtesy meeting with Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider at Bangabhaban on Sunday.

During the meeting, the Pakistani High Commissioner reiterated an invitation from Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to visit Pakistan. The President thanked Imran Haider for the invitation and also invited the Pakistani president to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time.

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Mirza Fakhrul said Pakistan is an important partner of Bangladesh in various fields. He said the people of both countries would benefit if trade and economic activities between them could be further expanded. To this end, he stressed the need to increase contacts between businesspeople and entrepreneurs and explore new trade opportunities.

The President said Pakistani ready-made garments, particularly women’s clothing, are quite popular in Bangladesh. He emphasised exploring the potential for exporting Pakistani garments, cotton yarn and other products to Bangladesh, while also making trade between the two countries more balanced. The Pakistani High Commissioner said a trade fair featuring Pakistani products would be held in Dhaka in October. He called for organising a similar trade fair in Pakistan featuring Bangladeshi products. The High Commissioner also said entrepreneurs in his country were interested in undertaking joint ventures in the production of sports equipment, including footballs.

Referring to the resumption of direct air connectivity between Dhaka and Karachi this year, the High Commissioner said the link was playing a positive role in boosting trade and commerce, medical tourism and people-to-people contacts between the two countries. He stressed the need to further increase the number of flights.

Praising the quality of tea produced in Bangladesh, the High Commissioner called for exporting more Bangladeshi tea to Pakistan by taking advantage of the duty-free facilities available in the Pakistani market.

The President said there was considerable scope for increasing exports of various quality Bangladeshi products to Pakistan, including ceramic products, betel leaf and other agricultural products, and pharmaceuticals. He said closer contacts between the relevant authorities and business communities of the two countries were needed to tap this potential.

Pakistan High Commissioner Imran Haider said his country attached great importance to its relations with Bangladesh. He said Pakistan was working to further strengthen bilateral trade, investment and mutual cooperation between the two countries.

The President also stressed the need to expand and strengthen opportunities for exchange training between members of the armed forces and civil administration of the two countries, as well as higher education in science, engineering, technology and medicine.

The High Commissioner sought the President’s cooperation in carrying out his diplomatic duties in Bangladesh. Assuring him of full cooperation in the discharge of his responsibilities, the President expressed hope that relations between the two countries would become more fruitful and multidimensional in the future through increased cooperation in trade, education, culture and training, as well as greater people-to-people contacts.

Senior officials from the President’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant departments were present at the meeting.