Hamid calls for joint ventures by Bangladesh, Sri Lanka to explore potential

President Md Abdul Hamid has stressed that Bangladesh and Sri Lanka work together to explore more potential in trade and investment along with other sectors including information technology, tourism, fisheries, agriculture and health.

Bangabhaban Correspondentbdnews24.com
Published : 14 July 2017, 11:53 PM
Updated : 14 July 2017, 11:54 PM

His call came during a meeting with visiting Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena at the Credential Hall at Bangabhaban in Dhaka on Friday evening.

Joynal Abedin, the Press Secretary to the President, later told reporters that Hamid called Sirisena's visit a milestone and talked about how both countries had growing bilateral relations.

Hamid said the two countries as members of various regional and international organisations, including UN, SAARC and BIMSTEC, have been supporting each other and sharing mutual concerns.

The president, according to Abedin, also said both nations would benefit from joint venture initiatives.

He welcomed the Sri Lankan investors to utilise the opportunity while calling Bangladesh the most open-minded country in South Asia.

The president suggested Sri Lanka could import ceramics, vegetables, plastic products, pharmaceutical products, electronics, footwear, iron and steel from Bangladesh.

The countries may also find other avenues of bilateral cooperation including environment, natural disaster management and climate change issues, Hamid added

The president hoped that Sri Lanka’s current state of reconciliation would speed up its allround development.

According to Press Secretary Abedin, President Sirisena said his country always considered Bangladesh as a tested friend.

He hoped Bangladesh’s development and progress would accelerate in future, and praised its socio-economic progress.

Later, President Hamid hosted a cultural function followed by a dinner at Darbar Hall in his honour.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, her family, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Cabinet members, Opposition Leader Raushon Ershad, among others, attended the dinner.

Earlier in the day, Speaker Chaudhury and Raushon had called on Sirisena at Sonargaon hotel separately.