Latin America upbeat about improving relations with Dhaka

There is much scope to improve trade, investment and bilateral relation between Bangladesh and Latin American nations, observed ambassadors of nine Latin American countries.
Speaking at the seminar ‘Bangladesh’s relations with Latin American countries: unlocking potentials’, organised by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), Bangladeshi experts from different fields also stressed the need for increasing engagement with the region.
Brazil ambassador Wanja Campos Da Nobrega, Mexican ambassador Melba Pria, Colombian ambassador Monica Lanzetta Mutis, Ecuador’s ambassador Mentor Villagomez, Peru’s ambassador-designate Jose JG Betancourt, Dominican Republic’s ambassador-designate Frank Hans Dannenberg Castellanos and Venezuela’s ambassador-designate Augusto Montiel took part in the seminar in Dhaka.
Speaking at the seminar, Melba Pria recalled her childhood when she, along with her grandmother, was holding a placard reading ‘Free Bangladesh’ in support of the Liberation War of 1971. She also carried a sack of rice in 1974 to the Red Cross for famine-stricken Bangladeshi people.
Bangladesh has graduated from that image, she said, ‘you have been able to not only grow [food] for yourselves, you also export it.’
She said she would ask Mexican trade commissioner to explore opportunities to engage with Bangladesh.
Wanja Nobrega said they got a guideline on exploring the potential for relations and an action plan would be prepared to implement it.
The ambassadors appreciated Bangladesh’s move to ‘jumpstart’ relations with their countries and said they would do whatever is necessary to unlock the potential of working with Bangladesh.
The foreign ministry organised the visit of eight non-resident mission chiefs, excluding Brazil, who are based in India with concurrent charges of Bangladesh. Brazil has a resident mission in Dhaka.
In Latin America, that consists of 33 countries and 600 million people, Bangladesh has embassies in only two countries — Brazil and Mexico.
The ambassadors also stressed the need for opening more missions of Latin American countries in Dhaka, as well as Bangladesh missions in their countries.
Participating in the discussion, Dhaka University professors Syed Manzoorul Islam stressed the need for ‘political awakening’ for improving relations with South American countries.
Center for Policy Dialogue’s executive director Prof Mustafizur Rahman said there was very good economic rationale to improve relations between Bangladesh and Central American, Caribbean and Latin American countries.
Brac University vice chancellor Syed Saad Andaleeb stressed the need for exploring ‘powerful incentives for economic exchanges’ with the region.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries president Abdul Matlub Ahmad urged the ambassadors to extend their support for Bangladesh business communities to explore trade and investment potential in the region.
Inaugurating the day-long seminar, state Minister for foreign affairs M Shahriar Alam said it was high time for Bangladesh to go beyond the traditional export markets and look for the same in new countries and regions, including Latin America, with which it can establish new politico-cultural and economic relations.
Foreign secretary Shahidul Haque said Latin American counties can explore potential in Bangladesh people, who are politically active, economically agile and liberal-minded.
Dhaka University prof Syed Ferhat Anwar, Saleemul Huq, director of International Centre for Climate Change Adaptation and Development, Bangla Academy director general prof Shamsuzzaman Khan, and Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers, Exporters Association’s former vice president Mohammad Hatem, BIISS chairman Munshi Faiz Ahmad and director general Major General AKM Abdur Rahman also took part in the seminar.

News COurtesy: www.newagebd.net