Dhaka, Sofia sign 4 deals

Bangladesh and Bulgaria yesterday agreed to formulate a roadmap for future economic cooperation to boost trade and investment between the two countries.

The consensus came during the official talks between visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borissov at the Council of Ministers here in the morning.

Following the meeting, the two countries signed four instruments to bolster bilateral cooperation in the areas of economy, trade and diplomacy.

Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque and PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.

They said before holding the official talks, the two premiers discussed how the bilateral ties could be improved further.

With the visit of the Bangladesh PM, a new horizon would be opened up in the fields of economy, politics and culture of the two countries, they hoped.

The two leaders also discussed Bangladesh's contributions to international peace and peacekeeping operations.

The foreign secretary said four broad areas were highlighted during the official talks. The areas include trade, general business, tourism and investment in the ICT, agriculture and germ plasm sectors and special economic zones.

Noting that Bulgaria has a big access to the European Union market, he said Bangladesh could explore the market for boosting trade and investment.

Since Bulgaria is very much advanced in the ICT and agriculture sectors, the Bangladesh premier underscored the need for collaboration in these sectors, Shahidul added.

The Bulgarian leader accepted Hasina's proposal for reviving the cultural cooperation agreement between the two countries which was signed in 1974, but is yet to be implemented.

The foreign secretary said there is a huge potential for the Bulgarian entrepreneurs to set up RMG factories in Bangladesh as it would also facilitate access of products to the EU.

Ihsanul said the Bangladesh PM highlighted the developments the country has seen in various fields in the last few years, especially the progress of women.

Hasina also urged the Bulgarian PM to work considering the “win-win cooperation” of the two countries since Bangladesh's relationship with East Europe could not advance significantly after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975.

Citing the lucrative incentives offered by her government to foreign investors, she called upon the Bulgarian businesses to invest in Bangladesh, especially in special economic zones.

The premier invited Borrisov to visit Bangladesh soon.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Prime Minister's Office Secretary Suraiya Begum, the foreign secretary, the PM's press secretary and Bangladesh Ambassador in Sofia M Allama Siddik took part in the talks from Bangladesh side.

FOUR DEALS SIGNED

Bangladesh and Bulgaria yesterday penned four instruments. The two prime ministers witnessed the signing of an agreement and three memorandums of understanding (MoUs) at the Council of Ministers at Sofia.

The three MoUs are: Economic cooperation between the two governments; cooperation between the Diplomatic Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh; and Small and Medium Enterprises Cooperation between Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion Agency and SME Foundation of Bangladesh.

The apex business chambers of the two countries -- Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry -- signed the agreement.