President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Wednesday sought more investment in Bangladesh and the expansion of bilateral trade from Lao PDR, Kenya, Zambia, Cyprus.
He said that there are huge potentials for expanding cooperation with the four countries, in different areas, including trade and investment, climate change, energy, and ICT.
The president made these comments after receiving credentials from the envoys of the four countries, who are concurrently accredited to Bangladesh, in separate ceremonies at Bangabhaban.
Apart from these areas, the president stressed enhancing cooperation in education, skills development and skills mobility, pharmaceuticals, jute and jute goods, ceramics, ready-made garments (RMG), textiles, tea, and seafood.
The president called for increasing the import of Bangladeshi products, including ready-made garments (RMG), pharmaceuticals, ceramics, tea, seafood, and jute products, to their respective countries.
The envoys who presented their credentials were Bounmy Vanmani of Lao PDR, Munyiri Peter Maina of Kenya, Percy P Chanda of Zambia, and Evagoras Vryonides of Cyprus.
Proposing the exchange of business delegations and investment forums to boost private sector engagement, the president emphasized exploring joint initiatives to address poverty, inequality, and sustainable development.
Welcoming the new envoys, he said Bangladesh always maintains friendly relations based on mutual respect and shared membership in international organizations like the United Nations (UN).
President Shahabuddin said that Bangladesh is keen to promote people-to-people contacts and youth exchange programs to foster better understanding and goodwill among nations.
Regarding Bangladeshi peacekeepers, the president highlighted that the peacekeepers of Bangladesh, working in various UN Peacekeeping Missions, play a significant role in ensuring world peace.
He shared strategies for combating climate change and promoting sustainable development through joint initiatives in renewable energy, conservation, and green technology.
Additionally, he advised the envoys of Zambia and Kenya to conclude agreements for cooperation in agriculture, particularly in contract farming.
The president urged the high commissioner of Cyprus to facilitate the hosting of more Bangladeshi students and skilled migrants by ensuring an easier visa processing system.
The envoys highly appreciated Bangladesh's socio-economic development and sought the president's cooperation in fulfilling their respective assignments in Dhaka.
Secretaries from the president's office and officials from the Foreign Ministry were present at the meetings.
Earlier, upon their arrival at Bangabhaban, a horse-mounted contingent of the Presidential Guard Regiment (PGR) gave a guard of honor to the envoys as part of the ceremony.
