Dhaka urges Colombo to work on trade and tourism for mutual benefits

Staff Reporter :
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Wednesday called upon the President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa to work together to enhance trade and promote tourism for the benefits of the two friendly countries.
The Foreign Minister offered the government of Sri Lanka to explore the possibilities of importing pharmaceuticals and agro products including potatoes from Bangladesh.
Abdul Momen, during a courtesy call on the Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Colombo placed these arrays of proposals for mutual benefits.
Drawing attention of the Sri Lankan President, the Foreign Minister said both the countries can work together to enhance trade and promote tourism by regular commercial shipping line and cruise shipping between Chattogram and Colombo Port.
Sri Lankan President offered greater use of Colombo port to Bangladesh for transportation of Bangladeshi trade goods.
Momen also urged the President of Sri Lanka to take joint initiatives to fully utilise the trade potentials between the two nations.
He also offered the government of Sri Lanka
to explore the possibilities of importing pharmaceuticals and agro products including potatoes from Bangladesh.
Both sides welcomed the progress made for early conclusion of bilateral Preferential Trade Agreement for enhancement and facilitation of bilateral trade between the two countries.
The President of Sri Lanka deeply appreciated the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for the policy of collective prosperity with special focus on counter terrorism and violent extremism.
The two sides also discussed the possible new areas of cooperation including food security, ICT, health care and blue economy.
Both Dhaka and Colombo agreed to expedite and complete the negotiations and approval process of pending bilateral instruments for greater benefits of the two peoples and increased bilateral engagements between the two countries.
President Rajapaksa thanked Bangladesh for continued support in various multilateral fora and both sides further agreed to closely work together in future.
During this occasion, Foreign Minister reiterated his request for continued support of Sri Lanka for the immediate repatriation of forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals to their home country with safety and dignity.
He congratulated the President of Sri Lanka on successful hosting of the 5th BIMSTEC Summit.
The two sides expressed satisfaction over celebration of 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries on 04 March 2022.