Argentina has informed Bangladesh that the South American country is open to exporting soybean, beef and fertiliser to Bangladesh.
Undersecretary of State for Foreign Policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Argentina, Claudio Javier Rozencwaig, conveyed this during his meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam at his office in Dhaka on Tuesday.
Both sides acknowledged that the current worldwide crisis in the supply of fertiliser and energy might hamper agricultural supplies further.
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Claudio led a four-member delegation to Bangladesh.
The delegation included Hugo Gobbi, ambassador of the Argentine Republic to Bangladesh resident in New Delhi, India.
During the meeting with Shahriar, the Argentine undersecretary handed over a message of felicitations from the Argentine foreign minister on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Argentina.
The state minister recalled the movement in Argentina led by famous Argentine poet Victoria Ocampo during the Liberation War in 1971.
He mentioned that poet Ocampo played an important role in raising public opinion to denounce war and support the right cause of Bangalees.
During the meeting both sides agreed on the importance of further strengthening business and commercial ties between the two nations.
The state minister emphasised the importance of cooperation between the two countries in the field of agriculture.
The Argentine undersecretary also met Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and they both discussed the issues of mutual interest and concern.
The foreign secretary expressed satisfaction on the signing of the memorandum of understanding on the establishment of bilateral consultations mechanism between the two countries.
The Argentine undersecretary informed that Argentina is actively considering opening its diplomatic mission in Dhaka.
Both sides agreed to organise a virtual meeting between the foreign ministers of Bangladesh and Argentina soon.
The undersecretary also stressed on the business-to-business relationship and expressed interest for immediate exchange of business delegation between the two countries.
The Argentine undersecretary signed a memorandum of understanding on the “Establishment of the Bilateral Consultations between Bangladesh and Argentina’’ in the afternoon.
Secretary West of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury signed the MoU from the Bangladesh side.
This MoU would lay the platform for regular discussions between the two governments.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Argentine Ambassador to Bangladesh (resident in New Delhi, India) Hugo Gobbi witnessed the MoU signing ceremony.
The delegation also met Tapan Kanti Ghosh, senior secretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Ruhul Amin Talukder, additional secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, at their respective ministries.
During the meetings, the two sides discussed continued close tie in the fields of international cooperation, agriculture, and trade.
Both sides are optimistic that this visit will pave the way for a renewed relationship between the two countries.
