Dhaka seeks duty free access of 129 goods to Indonesia.
Bangladesh Thursday sought duty and quota-free access of its 129 products to Indonesian market. This was stated in a joint communique issued after a meeting between Indonesian president Joko Widodo and Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina at Balai Sidang Jakarta Convention Centre in Jakarta. The Indonesian president said they would examine the list of duty and quota-free access of Bangladeshi goods and decide which products could be given such facilities. The communique said the two leaders also expressed concern over terrorism and violent extremism in both countries and other parts of the world and pledged for working together to combat terrorism and extremism. Foreign secretary Shahidul Haque, Bangladesh ambassador to Indonesia Nazmul Quaunine and director general (UN) Mustafizur Rahman were present on the occasion.
Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM’s Press Secretary AKM Shameem Chowdhuri said the two leaders agreed to further strengthen the bilateral cooperation on different issues, particularly promotion of the private sectors of both countries. They mainly focused on strengthening trade and business between the two big countries in terms of population, he said. The communique said the Indonesian president and the Bangladesh PM laid emphasis on deepening relations in the fields of trade and investment apart from further consolidating bilateral ties. In this connection, Sheikh Hasina sought access of Bangladeshi jute and jute goods to the Indonesian market The two leaders agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on agricultural cooperation, science and technology, power and cultural exchange.
They also agreed to ink a deal on cooperation between Indonesian Agency on Export and Bangladesh’s Export Promotion Bureau (EPB). Bangladesh also requested for visa-free regime for business people. The joint communique highlighted cooperation in the areas of UN peacekeeping, agriculture, education, cultural exchange, tourism, science and information and communication technology, energy and mineral resources. It said a meeting of the foreign- secretary level joint commission will be held at the end of the current year. Widodo sought Bangladesh’s support on two issues —one is cooperation on peacekeeping training and the other is Indonesia’s candidature for UN Non-Permanent Seat for 2019-2020 session. He also underscored the need for joint collaboration in the areas of coal, power and oil, RMG.
The Indonesian president laid importance on regular meeting of the joint commission at foreign minister- level and trade commission and he asked his foreign minister to hold the next meeting as early as possible. Hasina highlighted private sector cooperation and importing coal from Indonesia under private sector. Putting emphasis on maritime cooperation, she said Indonesia could utilize Bangladesh’s capacity in shipbuilding and could help Bangladesh to strengthen its maritime capacity building. Hasina invited the Indonesian President to visit Bangladesh, and the visit will take place at a mutual convenient time, the foreign secretary said. The meeting was followed by a joint communique signed by the Bangladesh ambassador to Indonesia and the director general of the Indonesian foreign ministry.
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