Italian PM promises encouraging more investment in Bangladesh

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has assured Sheikh Hasina of encouraging his country’s entrepreneurs to invest in various sectors of Bangladesh.

Senior Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 16 Oct 2014, 07:37 PM
Updated : 16 Oct 2014, 07:41 PM

The sectors for investing would include relocation of some industries as Bangladesh has been maintaining an open investment policy, Renzi told Hasina during a meeting on Thursday.

Both prime ministers met on the sidelines of the 10th ASEM Summit at Milan Congress in the afternoon (local time).

Briefing reporters later, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque said Renzi referred to the trade figure between Bangladesh and Italy which is at nearly $700 million and said more initiatives could double or even triple that figure.

Praising Bangladesh’s readymade garment sector, the Italian leader said the country could become a 'global hub' and assured continued support for this sector's development.

He told Hasina that his deputy foreign minister would visit Bangladesh at the end of this month to explore new avenues for cooperation to strengthen relations.

Haque quoted Renzi as calling for increased trade and investment between the countries.

Hasina informed her Italian counterpart about Bangladesh's achievements including poverty reduction, increase of remittance flow and maintaining over 6 percent GDP growth rate since 2009.

Meeting with Swedish PM

Later, Hasina met Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven at the Bangladesh Meeting Room of Milan Congress.

Hasina sought more Swedish investment in Bangladesh particularly in shipbuilding.

She also discussed Blue Economy and tourism opportunities in Bangladesh with Löfven.

The Swedish prime minister praised Bangladesh’s role in UN peacekeeping missions.

He lauded Bangladesh’s development in various sectors over the past few years, Foreign Secretary Haque said.

Speaking about autism, Löfven also praised Hasina’s daughter Saima Wazed Hossain Putul's role in creating global awareness.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder and Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy Shahadat Hossain were also present at the meeting, among others.