Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Marise Payne, will visit Bangladesh from September 3 to 5 to attend a ministerial meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
At the IORA Blue Economy Ministerial Conference, Minister Payne will highlight strategies for environmentally sustainable marine-based industries including fishing, aquaculture, tourism, shipping, and oil and gas, read a press release.
Minister Payne will travel to Cox's Bazar where Australia has been a leading donor in providing humanitarian assistance to more than 90,000 displaced Rohingya refugees and their host communities in Bangladesh.
This assistance includes counselling and medical services for women and girls who have experienced violence, supplying basic food and nutrition, particularly for children under five and breastfeeding women, providing clean water, shelter, and primary healthcare.
Minister Payne's discussions with Bangladesh Government leaders will focus on countering violent extremism, growing trade and investment links, promoting the Australian education sector, and addressing the Rohingya crisis.
This will be the first visit to Bangladesh by an Australian Foreign Minister since 1998 and the first by a Cabinet Minister since 2006.
