Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have discussed a roadmap for future cooperation agenda, including high-level visits to mark the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh-UAE diplomatic relations in 2024.
During the latest bilateral meeting held in Cox’s Bazar on Thursday, the two delegations took stock and reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral, regional, and multilateral cooperation.
The issues that came up for discussion covered enhanced commerce and trade, increased investment from the UAE side in the exclusive economic zones, human resource development, people-to-people contact, visa facilitation, waiver for diplomats and officials between the countries, collaboration on food security, energy and power, civil aviation, blue economy and climate change.
Both sides expressed their resolve to further consolidate the existing bond of friendship and to take them to new heights.
The 2nd Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and the UAE was held in hotel Royal Tulip in Inani, Cox’s Bazar.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen led the Bangladesh delegation while the UAE delegation was led by Dr Abdul Nasser Jamal Al Shaali, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs of UAE.
The two delegations also took notes of and exchanged views on developments in the regional and global arena.
Foreign secretary apprised the UAE Assistant Minister of Bangladesh’s remarkable progress in socio-economic sectors, robust economic growth as well as agricultural advancement in achieving food security.
The UAE assistant minister highly appreciated Bangladesh’s significant economic growth and congratulated the country’s leadership on the completion of the Padma Bridge at domestic finance.
The UAE delegation leader expressed solidarity with Bangladesh side for a durable and rapid solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis.
The first Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) Meeting between the countries was held in Abu Dhabi, UAE in February 2019.
The meeting coincided the 12th Bi-Annual meeting of the Committee of the Senior Officials (CSO) of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) of which Bangladesh and the UAE are members.
