Bangladesh and Brazil have signed an agreement to use each other’s “strengths and resources” for technical cooperation and economic development.
Visiting foreign minister Mauro Vieira signed the Basic Agreement on Technical Cooperation (TCA) with his counterpart, Dr Hasan Mahmud, after the bilateral meeting at the state guesthouse Jamuna.
This is the first visit of any Brazilian foreign minister after the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1972.
The foreign ministry termed the visit “historic”.
“I thanked and congratulated him for the visit,” Hasan Mahmud said at the joint briefing after the bilateral talk. “We had a very good and successful discussion on different issues.”
Bangladesh sought duty-free market access to ready-made clothes, which are made of cotton imported from Brazil.
The Brazilian foreign minister acknowledged that they had discussed ways of reviewing the tax system.
Brazil is a member of the BRICS, which is taking on new members. The visiting foreign minister endorsed Bangladesh’s willingness to join the group. Brazil is also the current president of the G-20.
Replying to a question on addressing Bangladesh’s concern about the Rohingya crisis, the Brazilian foreign minister said: “We support Bangladesh and its initiative and all its effort in this regard.” He also expressed solidarity to tackle the situation.
He also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit Brazil.
Hasan Mahmud said the visit might take place in July.
A joint statement was also issued on the visit, wherein they agreed on the importance of increasing cooperation and exchanges in the fields of agriculture, livestock, science, technology, and innovation, education, climate change, energy transition, and technical cooperation, among others.
With the signing of the TCA, they agreed “to leverage each other’s strengths and resources under the auspices of this instrument to foster avenues of technical cooperation and economic development between the two countries through the exchange of expertise, resources, and innovation, thereby fortifying bilateral relations and advancing mutual interests.”
The visiting minister welcomed Bangladesh’s “keen interest” in concluding a MERCOSUR-Bangladesh Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA).
The ministers concurred that this endeavor would enhance business opportunities and foster private sector engagements between Bangladesh, Brazil, and the other MERCOSUR state parties, significantly contributing to the promotion of South-South cooperation.
Both of them expressed their resolve to work toward the commencement of the process for negotiating a MERCOSUR-Bangladesh PTA at the earliest opportunity.
They warmly welcomed the conclusion of negotiations for the MoU on Sports Cooperation to be signed at an appropriate moment by the sports ministries of the two countries.
“The MoU represents a significant milestone that mirrors the enduring bond between our peoples, which has been cherished for generations.”
Bangladesh expressed gratitude to Brazil for offering scholarships within the framework of the Cultural and Educational Cooperation Agreement between Bangladesh and Brazil at Brazilian universities.
Brazil also acknowledged with appreciation Bangladesh’s generous offer of fully funded scholarships for two Brazilian diplomats to attend the one-year Specialized Diplomatic Training Course (SDTC) and Professional Master’s in International Relations and Diplomacy (PMIRD) at the Foreign Service Academy of Bangladesh.
Brazil also welcomed the invitation to designate two young Brazilian diplomats to participate in a fully funded two-week short training course at the Foreign Service Academy, alongside those from other Latin American countries.
Brazil invited Bangladesh to the G20 working group on women’s empowerment and the working group on environment and climate sustainability, as well as the task force on the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty.
They acknowledged the utmost importance of mitigation in the energy sector, and the pursuit of a just energy transition, while taking into account the imperative of energy security within specific national contexts.
The Bangladesh foreign minister offered to host a seminar on ethanol (ethanol talks) in Dhaka with relevant Brazilian experts shortly. The Brazilian minister welcomed the idea.
Earlier, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen received the Brazilian minister at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
He visited the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi 32 and paid tribute to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman before the bilateral talk.
State Minister for Commerce Ahsanul Islam Titu also met him at his place of residence, the Intercontinental Hotel.
Hasan Mahmud hosted an iftar and dinner in his honour.
He will meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Monday morning. After that, he will visit Square Pharmaceuticals facilities and Beximco Industrial Park in Gazipur.
In the afternoon, he is scheduled to deliver a lecture on Brazil's priority areas at the G20 as the current chair at the Foreign Service Academy.
He will also speak before the business leaders at an event hosted by the apex trade body, FBCCI. The chamber will also host an iftar and dinner in his honour.
He is scheduled to leave Dhaka at 11:55 pm on Monday.