BD-Bulgaria to formulate 'roadmap' on economic cooperation

Bangladesh and Bulgaria on Friday agreed to formulate a 'roadmap' for future economic cooperation through boosting trade and investment between the two countries alongside forging collaboration in the tourism sector.

 

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

 

After the talks, Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque and PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim jointly briefed reporters.

 

They said the official talks were held in a very warm and cordial atmosphere where the entire gamut of bilateral ties and cooperation between Bangladesh and the East European country was reviewed.

 

They said before the official talks, the two prime ministers held a tete-e-tete where they discussed how the bilateral ties could be further strengthened.

 

The Foreign Secretary and the Press Secretary said there was historic relations between the two countries before the assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. But the ties suffered a big 'setback' after 1975, they said.

 

They said the visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina aimed at building the relations in a newer way.

 

The Bangladesh Prime Minister once again invited her Bulgarian counterpart Borissov to visit Bangladesh soon, they said.

 

The Foreign Secretary said both Bangladesh and Bulgaria have agreed to boost investment alongside strengthening cooperation in the IT, agriculture and tourism sectors.

 

The Foreign Secretary said four broader areas were highlighted during the official talks, including trade, investment and general business, investment in the ICT sector, SEZs and cooperation in the tourism sector.

 

Citing the business-friendly environment and lucrative incentives offered by her government to woo investment, Sheikh Hasina also urged the Bulgarian businesses to invest in Bangladesh, especially in the SEZs.

 

Md Shahidul Haque said as Bulgaria is very much advanced in ICT and agriculture sector, including germ plasm and seed, Hasina has unrecorded the need for cooperation in these sectors and also sought investment in the countrywide special economic zones, especially in IT and agricultural sector.