Bangladesh signs MoUs on air service and public private partnership with Singapore

Bangladesh has signed two memoranda of understanding on air service and public private partnership with Singapore.

Sumon Mahbub, from Singaporebdnews24.com
Published : 12 March 2018, 05:25 AM
Updated : 12 March 2018, 07:06 AM

The deals were signed on Monday at the Istana, office of the Singapore president, in the presence of the prime ministers of both countries.

The MoU on air services between Bangladesh and Singapore was signed by SM Ghulam Farooque, civil aviation secretary of Bangladesh, and Loh Ngai Seng, permanent secretary of Singapore’s transport ministry.

The deal is meant to extend cooperation in air services.

Tan Soon Kim, assistant CEO of International Enterprise Singapore, and Syed Afsor H Uddin, chief executive officer of Bangladesh’s PPP Office, signed the MoU on public-private partnership.

In a statement, the International Enterprise Singapore said Bangladesh and Singapore enjoy strong economic ties, with Singapore being its third import partner.

It is also the fourth largest investor in Bangladesh with net cumulative investments of about $760 million. Singapore companies such as Fish & Co, Sushi Tei and TransferTo have presence in the market.

Tan Soon Kim of IE Singapore, said: “As a growing economy, there are many specific opportunities in selected sectors, particularly in infrastructure, transport and energy, which aligns well with the strengths of our companies.”

“These MOUs provide a good platform for Singapore companies to enter the market more easily and participate in the growth journey of the country.”

“IE Singapore will continue to closely with our Bangladeshi partners to identify areas of collaboration and promote business partnerships between Singapore and Bangladesh companies,” he said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina went to Singapore on Sunday for a four-day visit invited by her Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong.

She was greeted by Loong when she reached the Istana in Singapore.

Hasina was accorded a red-carpet welcome with a special group of the armed forces of Singapore greeting her. The national anthems of both countries were played on the occasion.

The PM had separate meetings with Singapore President Halimah Yacob and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Later, the MoUs were signed in the presence of the premiers from both countries.

Hasina will join a lunch hosted by Loong in the afternoon and visit the Port Authority in Singapore in the evening.

She will visit the Singapore Botanical Garden, a UNESCO heritage site, on Tuesday morning. An orchid is being named as ‘Sheikh Hasina’ in the honour of the prime minister.

Hasina is likely to attend the inauguration of Bangladesh-Singapore Business Forum on Tuesday morning and a dinner hosted by the High Commission of Bangladesh in Singapore on the same evening.

Hasina is scheduled to return to Dhaka on Mar 14.