Bangladesh, Brunei ink an agreement, 3 MoUs

Bangladesh and Brunei Darussalam on Sunday signed four instruments on cooperation in the areas of energy, aviation, manpower recruitment and recognition of certificates for two countries’ seafarers to take their bilateral relations to a new height.

One of the instruments is an agreement, while three others are memoranda of understanding (MoUs).

The documents were signed after the fruitful bilateral talks between the delegations of Bangladesh and Brunei Darussalam at the Prime Minister’s Office in Dhaka.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina led the Bangladesh delegation at the talks, while the Brunei Darussalam delegation was led by visiting Brunei Darussalam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah.

The lone agreement is related to the air services, while the memoranda of understanding (MoUs) are on employment and recruitment of Bangladeshi workers, cooperation in the supply of LNG and other petroleum products, and recognition of certificate issued under the provision of the International Convention on Standards of training, certification and watch-keeping for seafarers.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Brunei Darussalam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah witnessed the signing ceremony.

Bangladesh State Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism Md Mahbub Ali and Brunei Minister of Finance and Economy Dr Amin Abdullah signed the agreement on air services.

Bangladesh Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Imran Ahmad and Brunei Minister of Home Affairs Ahmaddin Bin Haji Abdur Rahman signed the MoU on Employment and Recruitment of Bangladeshi Workers.

Bangladesh State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid and Brunei Minister Dr Amin Abdullah signed the MoU in the field of cooperation in the supply of LNG and other petroleum products.

Bangladesh State Minister for Shipping Khaled Mahmud Chowdhury and Brunei Minister Dr Amin Abdullah inked the MoU on the recognition of the certificate issued under the provision of the International Convention on Standards of training, certification and watch-keeping for seafarers.

Bilateral trade in FY 2020-21

According to Export Promotion Bureau and Bangladesh Bank data, the total bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Brunei in FY 2020-21 amounted to $36.42 million. Exports items from Bangladesh to Brunei mostly included food items, while Bangladesh imported products such as minerals, chemicals, and various mechanical and instrumental items from the country.

Major export items from Bangladesh to Brunei includes various fruit juices, flours and meals, bakery items such as mixes and doughs, fresh or chilled potatoes, sweet biscuits, spices, milk and cream, breads such as communion wafers and rice paper, chilies in various forms (dried, canned, wrapped), and processed cereals.

Meanwhile, import from Brunei includes mineral products, and products of the chemical or allied industries. Import of mineral products alone amounts to $34.14 million.