DHAKA, July 8 – The Netherlands has included Bangladesh in its top 15 countries list to where they would provide cooperation and assistance in priority basis for expediting emerging economies of those nations.
“We will expedite our support to Bangladesh in the fields of water management, food security, food safety, environment, climate change and higher education,” outgoing Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh Alphons Hennekens apprised President Zillur Rahman while paying his farewell call on him at
Bangabhaban today.
During the meeting, the President thanked the envoy for successful completion of his assignment in Bangladesh.
President Rahman observed that existing relations between Bangladesh and the Netherlands is excellent, characterised by commonality of views, deepening economic cooperation and increasing bilateral trade.
The trade relations between Bangladesh and the Netherlands grown steadily as Bangladesh exported 1,285 million US dollar worth goods to the Netherlands during 2010-11 fiscal year while imported 130 million US dollar in the same period from that country.
Zillur Rahman stressed the need for exchanging more trade and
investment delegations between Bangladesh and the Netherlands to
increase the commerce relations between the two countries.
The President recalled with gratitude that the Netherlands was one of the first European nations to recognise Bangladesh and since the country’s independence the Netherlands has been extending economic assistance, especially technical cooperation in water resources and food security.
The outgoing envoy lauded the Bangladesh government’s role for its recent rapid economic growth. “Bangladesh is moving fast in respect of economy and I believe it will be a middle income country by 2021,” he observed.
The Netherlands Ambassador also appreciated Bangladesh’s role in the UN peacekeeping missions as presently it is the number one troops sending country to the peacekeeping missions.
Secretaries concerned of the President’s office were present.
Author : Syed Rajowan, Source : BSS