Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged Belgium to build high standard ships in Bangladesh alongside enhancing cooperation in several sectors including pharmaceuticals and renewable energy.
“We are building ships now. But you can come here in Bangladesh to manufacture high standard ships. We are building a large seaport in Payra. So, you are most welcome,” she told her Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo in a bilateral meeting held at the FPS Chancellery here.
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen briefed reporters about the outcome of Sheikh Hasina’s engagement in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium.
Croo expressed his hope that they would work on bilateral cooperation in the renewable energy sector.
In reply, Sheikh Hasina said Belgium can work with Bangladesh not only in renewable energy, but also in the shipbuilding sector.
In the meeting, Bangladesh also proposed Belgium to sign a partnership agreement over cooperation in the pharmaceuticals sector, said Momen.
When the Belgian Prime Minister said his country is very good in the pharmaceutical industry, the Bangladesh PM said her country is also good in pharmaceuticals as it fulfills 90 percent of domestic needs and exports pharmaceutical items to 117 countries across the world.
“Belgium was asked to sign a partnership agreement over the pharmaceuticals sector. If so, Belgium can produce pharmaceutical items at affordable prices. Croo liked the proposal,” said Momen.
The Belgium premier highly praised the economic success attained in recent years and last year’s celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Belgium.
Sheikh Hasina appreciated the dredging and spanning machines Bangladesh imported from Belgium saying that the two countries can work further to enhance cooperation in this regard.
In this context, the Belgian premier said the European country is the world’s number-1 in dredging.
“It was a very cordial discussion with (her Belgian counterpart) Alexander De Croo. The discussion was very fruitful,” said Momen.
MSH
