Dutch help assured for Delta Plan

Bangladesh and the Netherlands have agreed to work more closely for the implementation of Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 to make the delta safe and productive for its people.

The two countries also decided to work sincerely to step up bilateral trade and investment.

The consensus came during the bilateral talks between visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte at the latter's official residence on Wednesday.

As Rutte expressed interest in Bangladesh deep-sea port projects, Hasina assured the Dutch side of her government's due consideration of the proposition.

A joint statement issued after the talks said the two premiers discussed bilateral and global issues of mutual interest, including trade and investment, private sector development, agriculture, port development and rule of law.

“The two prime ministers have agreed to work together to make densely populated delta areas across the world safer and economically more viable in the framework of the Delta Coalition,” the statement said.

The two leaders said both Bangladesh and the Netherlands are countries of deltaic nature and there exists immense scope for cooperation between the two countries in the areas of delta management and water resources management.

Hasina lauded the expertise of the Netherlands in delta management and thanked the Dutch PM for its support in the development of Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the ministerial level visits in recent times and agreed to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and consultations.

The two premiers noted with satisfaction the holding of first-ever bilateral consultations between the foreign ministries of Bangladesh and the Netherlands which was held on September 10 in The Hague.

Hasina apprised her Dutch counterpart of various measures taken and incentives offered by her government to promote foreign direct investment in Bangladesh. She invited Dutch investors to invest in pharmaceuticals, leather, agro-processing, light engineering, jute, shipbuilding, power and energy, infrastructure, IT and tourism sectors.

The Netherlands appreciated Bangladesh government's strong commitment towards building a sustainable RMG sector.

Rutte praised Bangladesh as a top troop and police contributing-country to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO), and thanked Bangladesh for the support for the non-permanent seat for the Netherlands in the UN Security Council for 2017-18.

He praised Bangladesh for attaining MDGs and hoped that the country would be a leader in the developing world in implementing the SDGs as well.

He congratulated Bangladesh on being elected as the chair of Global Fund for Migration and Development for 2016.

Hasina and Rutte agreed that climate change is one of the greatest challenges facing mankind.

She extended an invitation to Rutte to pay a visit to Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, State Minister for Water Resources Md Nazrul Islam and PM's Principal Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad were present, among others.

FOUR INSTRUMENTS INKED

Bangladesh and the Netherlands on Wednesday signed four instruments, aiming to boost bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the fields of education and diplomacy.

The instruments are: Memorandum of Understanding on Foreign Office Consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, Letter of Intent between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh on Training Cooperation for Junior Diplomats from Bangladesh, Memorandum of Agreement between Saxion University of Applied Sciences, School of Creative Technology and BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology and Bilateral Cooperation Agreement/ Memorandum of Understanding between the Saxion University of Applied Sciences and BGMEA University of Fashion and Technology.

The secretaries and officials concerned signed the instruments in presence of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte at the latter's official residence.