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Bangladesh, Indonesia leaders agree to strengthen trade, other relations
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Indonesian President Joko Widodo have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation, especially on trade-related issues.
Published : 23 April 2015, 02:08 PM
Updated : 23 April 2015, 02:32 PM
Hasina met Widodo at the Balai Sidang Jakarta Convention Centre on the sidelines of the 60th Asian-African Conference Commemoration here on Thursday.
After the meeting, Hasina’s Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhury said the leaders of the two big countries in terms of population stressed South-South cooperation.
The prime minister sought duty-free access of several Bangladeshi goods to the Indonesian market, Chowdhury said.
“Time has come to do businesses well,” he said quoting Hasina as telling Widodo.
Hasina also sought Indonesia’s help to use its maritime experience, including shipbuilding.
The Indonesian president sought duty-free access of goods like coal, clinker, pepper and edible oil to Bangladesh.
He also emphasised joint training of soldiers for sending them to UN peacekeeping missions.
Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque said Hasina stressed bilateral cooperation in the private sector.
“She also said she thought the private sectors of the two countries could discuss the purchase of coal from Indonesia,” Haque said.
The two leaders also stressed regular meetings of the joint commission.
A joint communiqué was issued after the meeting.
Referring to the communiqué, Haque said Bangladesh sought duty-free access for 129 goods.
Indonesia said it would check the list.
The joint communiqué stressed cooperation in the fields of clothing, agriculture, tourism, education, culture, shipbuilding and maritime matters.
It also said the two countries had promised to work together to check militancy and violence.
According to the communiqué, a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on agriculture, power and maritime issues would be signed.
A meeting of the joint commission of the two countries would be held by the end of 2015.
Hasina also met her Palestinian and Nepalese counterparts Rami Hamdallah and Sushil Koirala.
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