Bangladesh, Morocco reaffirm pledge to enhance bilateral ties

Bangladesh and Morocco have reiterated their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with both sides expressing keen interest in expanding cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including trade, investment, industry, culture and manpower.

The issues were discussed when Morocco’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, Lalla Bouthaina El Kerdoudi El Koulali, paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shama Obaed Islam, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on Wednesday.

According to the Foreign Ministry, the meeting reaffirmed the longstanding friendship and growing partnership between the two countries.

Welcoming the newly appointed Moroccan envoy, Shama Obaed Islam conveyed Bangladesh’s readiness to extend full cooperation to further enhance the existing relationship and explore new areas of collaboration.

During the discussions, both sides identified several sectors with significant potential for cooperation, including trade and investment, pharmaceuticals, textiles, jute and jute products, maritime affairs, shipbuilding and manpower.

The State Minister also highlighted the importance of broadening cooperation in sports, culture, science and technology to further strengthen ties between the two nations.

Ambassador El Koulali noted that Morocco’s strategic geographical location offers access to markets in both Africa and Europe, creating opportunities for greater economic engagement with Bangladesh.

She proposed joint ventures in the textile, pharmaceutical and maritime sectors and reaffirmed Morocco’s commitment to expanding cooperation across various fields.

The envoy also expressed interest in enhancing collaboration in the recruitment of skilled and semi-skilled workers, describing it as a promising area for future engagement.

Shama Obaed Islam emphasised the need to promote people-to-people contacts through cultural and sporting exchanges and underscored the importance of pursuing a mutual visa waiver agreement to facilitate closer interaction between the two countries.

She also stressed the value of regular bilateral consultations and high-level visits as a means of deepening cooperation and advancing the Bangladesh-Morocco partnership.

The meeting reflected the shared determination of both countries to build on existing ties and explore new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in the years ahead.