Bangladesh and Egypt have agreed to establish a business forum to enhance trade and commerce ties by facilitating greater private sector engagement between the two countries.
This decision was made during the second Bilateral Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between Bangladesh and Egypt, held at Egypt's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the New Capital, Cairo, on Thursday, according to a message received on Saturday.
During the consultations, all aspects of bilateral relations — including political and economic cooperation, trade and investment, microcredit, education, agriculture, aquaculture, shipbuilding, defense, people-to-people connectivity, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest — were discussed.
The FOC provided an opportunity to explore collaborations and the full potential both countries can offer each other to enhance bilateral cooperation.
Bangladesh’s foreign secretary, Md Jashim Uddin, and Egypt’s assistant foreign minister, Ahmed Shaheen, led their respective delegations.
At the FOC, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral ties based on their long-standing friendship and shared aspirations.
They underscored the importance of high-level political engagement and regular diplomatic consultations to advance their mutual interests.
Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in agriculture and food security, including agricultural research, irrigation technology, and sustainable farming practices.
They emphasized the need to expand educational exchanges, scholarship opportunities, and vocational training collaborations.
The Egyptian assistant foreign minister assured that he would consider Bangladesh’s request to increase the number of scholarships for Bangladeshi students at Al-Azhar University.
Both countries agreed on the importance of promoting tourism, sports, and cultural programs and easing visa procedures to enhance people-to-people connectivity.
The delegations reviewed the progress of existing agreements and discussed the possibility of signing new Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to facilitate future cooperation.
Both sides expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people, strongly supporting their right to self-determination and statehood while underlining the importance of regional peace and stability.
The Rohingya issue was also on the agenda.
The humanitarian aspects and sustainable solutions to the crisis were emphasized.
The foreign secretary underscored the need for continued global support for a sustainable resolution and informed the assistant foreign minister about the upcoming international conference on the Rohingya issue.
Both countries agreed to cooperate in multilateral forums, including the United Nations, to support each other’s candidacies and emphasized joint efforts in addressing climate change challenges.
The two sides agreed to maintain regular high-level engagements and consultations to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.
It was decided that the third Bilateral Consultation will be held in Dhaka in 2026 at a mutually convenient time.
On Thursday, the foreign secretary met with the vice president of the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce, Mr Hani Mahmoud.
During the discussions, emphasis was placed on signing the already finalized MoU between the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Egyptian Chamber.
