Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that the friendly ties that her father, the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, initiated in 1972 between Bangladesh and France have reached a new dimension.
Delivering her statement at a joint press briefing after a bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday, she also said, "Today is a historic day in our bilateral relationship between France and Bangladesh which has been evolving for more than five decades.”
According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh exported to France goods worth $3.29 billion in FY2022-23, which was $2.71 billion and $1.96 billion in FY2021-22 and FY2020-21, respectively.
In FY23, the country earned $1.88 billion by exporting knitwear to France, $1.07 billion through woven products, $88 million through home textile goods, $195 million through footwear, $17 million through fish and crustaceans, and $10 million through furniture.
On the other hand, Bangladesh imported goods worth $180 million in FY22, which was $193 million in FY21 and $208 million in FY2019-20, according to Bangladesh Bank data. The country mainly imported chemical, machinery, vehicles and metals from France.
The central bank’s data also showed that in 2022, Bangladesh received $12.53 million foreign direct investment from France. The figure was $13.45 million in 2021 and $13.6 million in 2020.
The prime minister held the bilateral talks with the French president at her office in Dhaka earlier on Monday, reports BSS. She said she had fruitful discussions with Macron on the entire spectrum of bilateral matters in a very cordial setting.
She went on to say that France expressed its reverence and support for Bangladesh's sovereign policy independence, particularly in the context of the ongoing geopolitical instability and economic uncertainty.
"We both hope that this new strategic move between Bangladesh and France will play an effective role in establishing regional and global stability and peace,” she said.
The cornerstone of this new relationship is based on the constitutional and democratic continuity, development and good governance in Bangladesh over the past one and half decades, she said.
Confidence in Bangladesh’s progress
"The government of France has expressed its satisfaction with the responsible and committed activities of the government of Bangladesh in protecting the fundamental and human rights of its people,” the prime minister continued.
The confidence of the French government in the spectacular and consistent progress of Bangladesh's economy was greatly appreciated as well, she said.
Sheikh Hasina said France reiterated its commitment to standing by Bangladesh people and government in the implementation of Vision-2041 by continuing privileges for Bangladesh to the trade facilitation of the European Union under GSP+ scheme.
"Therefore, on behalf of the people of Bangladesh, I express sincere thanks to the French government and the people of France under the leadership of President Macron,” she added.
In the talks, she said, they had detailed discussions aimed at advancing the bilateral relations between the two countries and "we were able to reach some consensus."
As a trusted development partner of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina said, France has assured us of its continued cooperation in infrastructure development.
They also expressed their interest in providing advanced and specialised technical assistance in building Bangladesh's strategic security infrastructure, she said.
As leading and responsible resident powers in the Asia and Pacific, Bangladesh and France will act to ensure geopolitical stability of the region, she said. "We welcome France's leadership in combating the negative effects of climate change and laud President Macron's call for establishing a sustainable fund."
In addition, she said there had been effective discussions with France on educational, cultural and linguistic exchanges in the meeting.
This is Macron's first visit to Bangladesh and the second visit of any French president as former president Francois Mitterrand had a tour to Bangladesh in February 1990.
2 instruments signed
The two countries on Monday also signed two bilateral instruments to enhance cooperation in different fields, including infrastructure and satellite, officials said.
The documents were inked in the presence of Prime Minister Hasina and France President Macron at Karobi Hall of the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka.
The Credit Facility Agreement between the Economic Relations Division (ERD) of Bangladesh and the France Development Agency (AFD) on "Improving Urban Governance and Infrastructure Program" was signed by ERD Secretary Sharifa Khan and Benoît Chassatte, country director of AFD.
The Letter of Intent (LOI) on Cooperation between Bangladesh Satellite Company Ltd (BSCL) and Airbus Defence and Space SAS of France related to Bangabandhu-2 Earth Observation Satellite System was signed by BSCL Chairman Shahjahan Mahmood and Stephane Vesval, senior vice-president, sales and marketing, Space Systems, Airbus.
Earlier, Sheikh Hasina and Emmanuel Macron held talks to explore new areas of cooperation between the two countries.
