Bangladesh urges Finland to explore investment opportunities
Bangladesh
Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen has urged Finland to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh's special economic zones and hi-tech parks.
During an hour-long virtual meeting Tuesday, the two ministers also discussed the possibility of initiating work on a bilateral agreement on double taxation, said a foreign ministry press release Wednesday.
Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto congratulated Bangladesh for its projected graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026.
Both foreign ministers expressed their satisfaction at the business dialogue held between the two sides in December 2020, said the press release.
Momen said, "Bangladesh and Finland should observe the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2022, in a befitting manner, through high-level political visits, investment dialogues and cultural exchanges."
The Finnish foreign minister praised Bangladesh's humanitarian gesture to the forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Myanmar. He said Finland would remain engaged with the situation leveraging its engagement in certain mediation efforts in Myanmar.
Foreign Minister Momen urged Finland and other European Union member states to work towards early, voluntary repatriation of the Rohingyas in safety and dignity.
The two ministers agreed to enhance their cooperation on climate change issues – including through the Coalition of Finance Ministers on Climate Change which Finland co-chairs.
Minister Momen highlighted Bangladesh's work on the Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan, its presidency of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and its hosting of a regional office of the Global Centre on Adaptation.
Finnish Foreign Minister Haavisto recognised the contribution of Bangladesh's diaspora to Finnish society. The two ministers agreed to work on cultural exchanges and knowledge partnerships for fostering human connectivity.
The two ministers recalled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niniistö in Helsinki in June 2019. They stressed the importance of the regular exchange of high-level visits and diplomatic consultations.
Bangladesh's non-resident Ambassador to Finland Md Nazmul Islam also joined the meeting.
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