Bangladesh, Bahrain to promote trade, economic cooperation

Dhaka, June 20 (UNI) Bangladesh and Bahrain today said they will sign three agreements for boosting bilateral trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

Besides, Dhaka is expecting to send more skilled and semi-skilled workforce to the gulf state where some 75,000 Bangladeshis are now working.

This understanding was reached during an official talk between the Bangladesh Foreign Advisor Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and visiting Bahrain's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Nezar Sadiq Al Baharna at the state guest house Padma.

The agreements to be signed aim at avoiding double taxation, protecting investment and air services.

''We have made much progress on these agreements and these will be signed within this year,'' Mr Chowdhury told reporters after the 45-minute talk.

Both sides, he said, discussed how to increase trade and investment between the two countries apart from sending skilled and semi-skilled manpower from Bangladesh.

''We have expressed our firm commitment to strengthen our political, economic and diplomatic relations,'' the Advisor added.

Bahrain State Minister Dr Al Baharna said, ''We had very good discussion covering bilateral, Middle East and international issues, adding, that some agreements will be signed to promote trade and investment.'' The discussions also focussed on how to jointly develop pharmaceutical, garment, food and flower industries and increase exports.

Bangladesh's export to Bahrain fetches a paltry amount of around 4 million dollars while import costs 3.5 million dollars.

The labour market reform also came up for discussion. Besides, he said, they discussed joint agreement on Middle East and international cooperation.

UNI