As Bangladesh has become an emerging economy in the region and has maintained a steady economic growth over years defying the corona pandemic, Brazil wants to expand multilateral engagements specially in the trade and investment with the South Asian country.
Brazil Ambassador in Dhaka Paulo Fernando Dias Feres told it at a programme marking the 201st Independence Day of the Latin American country at a hotel in the capital Dhaka on Wednesday.
Health and Education Minister Zahid Malek was present in the function as the chief guest.
Politicians, business leaders, civil and military bureaucrats, members of civil society, journalists and bankers attended the reception.
Brazil Ambassaod Paulo Fernando Dias Feres and his wife Eliane Alcantara Feres cordially received the guests of the function.
Paulo Fernando Dias Feres said that Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina last month held a bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the sidelines of the BRICS-Africa Outreach and the BRICS Plus Programme in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“During the meeting, both leaders agreed to continue cooperation on trade, agriculture, livestock, agro-business, energy, infrastructure, and ICT”, he said.
Brazilian President Lula assured Bangladesh all sorts of cooperation and invited the Bangladesh premier to visit Brazil at a convenient time.
Meanwhioel, as part of that strategy, a high-powered trade delegation of the Latin American country visited Bangladesh in May in 2023 with an aim to strengthen bilateral trade with Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s export to Brazil, the largest market Latin America, during last 2022-23 fiscal year posted some 60 per cent growth over the previous 2021-22 fiscal year, according to data of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB)
In the 2021-22 fiscal year, Bangladesh exported goods valued at $109.20 million to Brazil. The main products that Bangladesh exported to Brazil were Jerseys, pullovers, cardigans, waistcoats and similar articles; knitted or crocheted, shirts; men's or boys' (not knitted or crocheted), and suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts (other than swimwear); men's or boys' (not knitted or crocheted).
Bangladesh and Brazil have increased their engagement in multilateral sectors especially in the trade and investment as the bilateral trade between the two countries marked a higher growth in recent times, he said