Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has urged Bangladesh's envoys in European countries and the UK to explore new markets for Bangladeshi products protecting the readymade garment export market during Covid-19 pandemic.
He made the call during a virtual meeting on Monday.
Bangladesh envoys from the UK, Italy, France, Sweden, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Austria joined the virtual briefing, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Dr Rubana Huq also joined the meeting.
The Foreign Minister urged the envoys to play their due role in keeping the trend of export earnings uninterrupted.
He briefed the Bangladesh envoys to explore opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in new areas there.
The Foreign Minister directed the Bangladesh envoys to share government initiatives, including a stimulus package, to overcome the Covid-19 situation with the respective government and expatriates Bangladeshis there.
He urged the Bangladesh Ambassadors to remain alert about negative campaigns against Bangladesh in the external world.
Dr Momen said Bangladesh has been able to keep the wheel of its economy moving apart from ensuring treatment for Covid-19 patients due to the farsighted leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He said a US$ 12.11-billion stimulus package has been announced to overcome the temporary pressure on the national economy amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
Dr Momen said around 5 crore people of the country received cash support.
BGMEA President Rubana Huq said the RMG factories are in production following the guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) and International Labour Organisation (ILO).
She said Bangladesh, after meeting its domestic demand, exported 65 lakh pieces of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the US market.
Rubana Huq shared the problems of the RMG sector with the Ambassadors and sought their support in addressing those.
The envoys assured her of providing required support in this regard.
