Foreign Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday laid emphasis on export diversification to boost earnings from exports and help grow the economy to achieve its development goals.
"This is not just magic. This is because of the magical leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina," Hasan said while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar.
He mentioned value-added RMG, pharmaceutical products, plastic, leather, jute goods, shipbuilding and also skilled manpower as some of the areas of focus for export diversification.
The foreign minister said there is a lot of potential to increase agro-product exports including mangoes from Bangladesh.
He said Bangladesh has made tremendous progress over the last 15 years despite challenges from multiple fronts including the negative impacts of climate change.
He described how Bangladesh became a food-grain-sufficient country and how it addressed poverty issues significantly.
The Foreign Minister said the government is well aware of geopolitical issues and noted that the geopolitical scenario is evolving.
He said this situation creates both opportunities and challenges, and the government is making decisions prudently.
Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organised the international seminar on 'Economic Diversification and Global Market: Bangladesh's Opportunities and Way Forward" at the BIISS auditorium.
Md Abul Kalam Azad, MP and former Principal Coordinator (SDGs), Prime Minister's Office (PMO); Masud Bin Momen, foreign secretary, Tapon Kanti Ghosh, senior secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Wahida Akhter, secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, spoke as special guests chaired by BIISS Chairman A F M Gousal Azam Sarker.
