Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia Retno L. P. Marsudi have led the respective delegation in the bilateral talks in Jakarta to enhance the ties.
The meeting on Monday reviewed the whole gamut of the existing excellent bilateral relations and both sides renewed their commitment for further strengthening it, the foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
Dr Momen also met Indonesian trade minister Zulkifli Hasan and exchanged views with the businessmen.
During the bilateral talk, the two Foreign Ministers exchanged felicitations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The two countries agreed to accelerate cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, agriculture, food, energy, health & pharmaceuticals, connectivity, ICT, tourism, halal trade, human resources development, defence, youth & cultural exchanges, among others.
They expressed optimism that the MoUs in the pipeline would be concluded soon. They stressed on concluding the bilateral PTA for further strengthening the economic cooperation.
Foreign Minister Dr Momen sought a proactive support of Indonesia and of the ASEAN for an early repatriation of the stranded Myanmar nationals from Bangladesh to Myanmar.
Dr. Momen also requested for an expeditious decision on Bangladesh’s candidacy for the Sectoral Dialogue Partnership of ASEAN.
After the official talks, the two Foreign Ministers made brief press statements.
Foreign Minister Dr Momen met with Indonesian Minister of Trade in Jakarta:
Foreign Minister Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen also met the Indonesian Minister of Trade Zulkifli Hasan in Jakarta Monday.
The two Ministers reviewed the trade relations between the two countries and agreed to expedite the conclusion of the bilateral PTA in this year of Golden Jubilee of Diplomatic Relations.
Dr. Momen requested the Indonesian side to consider favourably Bangladesh’s request for inclusion of RMG items in the PTA in order to address the yawning trade gap.
The two Ministers agreed to further accelerate the exchange and interaction between the business communities of the two countries. Dr. Momen invited the Indonesian Trade Minister to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time this year.
In the evening, Foreign Minister Dr. Momen addressed a gathering of Indonesian business persons and investors urging them to invest in Bangladesh availing the opportunities prevailing in the fast developing country.
He also unveiled a commercial stamp issued by Bangladesh Embassy in Jakarta in celebration of the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
