• Diplomatic News

Hon'ble State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Md. Shahriar Alam is paying official visits to South Africa, Eswatini and Botswana

  • Diplomatic News
  • 05 February, 2023 16:18:25

Photo: Collected

Newsdesk: Hon'ble State Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Md. Shahriar Alam and Deputy Foreign Minister Ms. Dlamini held bilateral talks at the Foreign Ministry in Pretoria today. The State Minister is paying official visits to South Africa, Eswatini and Botswana. He was accompanied by Bangladesh High Commissioner in South Africa and Foreign Ministry and embassy officials.

At the outset of the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister, Ms. Dlamini referred to the recent high level visits that took place between Bangladesh and South Africa. She underlined the need of more cooperation in trade and economy areas between Bangladesh and South Africa. She welcomed Bangladeshi investors to invest in tourism, textiles and other sectors in South Africa. The Hon'ble State Minister Mr. Shahriar Alam mentioned the excellent relations that exist between Bangladesh and South Africa. He viewed that the signature of visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders and agreement on avoidance of double taxation between Bangladesh and South Africa will facilitate contacts and increase trade and investment between the two countries.

The State Minister, referring to his meeting with the Business Unity South Africa which took place yesterday, said that the chambers' organization has shown interest in working with Bangladeshi chambers. He proposed formation of a Bangladesh-South Africa business council comprising different chamber officials and businessmen to assess business potentials and discuss on business matters.

The Deputy Foreign Minister cited that trade and Investment, culture, social development, textiles, climate change, energy security and commodity supply chain areas are potential areas of cooperation. She underlined the need of holding regular foreign office meetings between the two countries. She viewed that air service connectivity and B2B contacts would help develop business relations and contacts. She proposed that both sides may exchange knowledge in agriculture and peacekeeping areas. She assured that the South African government would try to ease the visa procedure of Bangladeshi applicants.

H.E. Mr. Shahriar Alam thanked the South African government for their support on the Rohingya issue and sought their cooperation for the repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingya people to their homeland.

Ms. Dlamini commended the existing level of partnership between Bangladesh and South Africa and underscored the need of more engagement of private sectors in order to carry forward the trade and economic relations. Both sides agreed to continue working together to develop the bilateral relations to further heights.

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