PM for strengthening ties with Vietnam in agriculture

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday laid emphasis on strengthening ties between Bangladesh and Vietnam in different areas of agriculture, especially setting up of agro-based industries in joint ventures.

The Prime Minister said this when outgoing Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh Nguen Van That met her at her official residence Ganobhaban.

PM’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters after the meeting.

The Prime Minister called for sharing experiences in the fields of small and medium-scale industries, IT, shipbuilding, canned and food processing plants, leather sector, agriculture and horticulture sectors and pharmaceuticals.

She also put emphasis on establishing close cooperation and coordination between the leading business organisations like the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and its Vietnamese counterpart, between Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and VINATEX, and the department of fisheries and VASEP.

Hasina requested the envoy to encourage the Vietnamese businesses to invest in Bangladesh as the country offers lucrative packages for the foreign investors.

The Prime Minister stressed the need for further increasing the existing trade and business relations as it is not at par with political relations and does not match the huge population of the two nations.

She expressed the hope that attention and visits of the leaderships of the two countries will create confidence in boosting the trade volumes between Bangladesh and Vietnam.

The outgoing envoy praised Bangladesh’s tremendous successes in various fields like agriculture, education, health, women empowerment and social safety net under the dynamic and visionary leadership of the Prime Minister.

He also thanked the Prime Minister for extending her government sincere cooperation in discharging his duties during his tenure in Bangladesh.