Argentina plans to reopen Dhaka embassy

Argentina is planning to reopen its embassy in Dhaka in order to bolster economic and political ties with Bangladesh.

Undersecretary of Foreign Policy to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Worship, Claudio Rozencwaig, said this at a meeting with FBCCI president Md Jashim Uddin in Dhaka on Monday.

Claudio, who is leading an Argentine delegation to Dhaka, expressed interest in boosting bilateral relations on all fronts. He also invited the elite trade body to lead a business delegation to Argentina to scout investments in potential sectors.

On his part, Md Jashim stressed on establishing institutional partnership between the private sectors of the two countries and proposed the signing of an MoU between FBCCI and its counterpart in Argentina to enhance trade engagements.

To harness the trade potentials of Bangladesh with South America, Md Jashim also sought the support of the Argentine government to expedite the process of signing a free trade agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and MERCOSUR, the southern common market comprising Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay.

"The region is equipped with significant dynamic markets and they can source quality products from Bangladesh, including processed foods, pharmaceuticals, plastics, ceramics and readymade garments, at competitive prices," he said.

He also invited Argentine businessmen to invest in the economic zones of Bangladesh.

Hugo Gobbi, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, also suggested the signing of a preferential trade agreement (PTA) between Bangladesh and MERCOSUR "as the FTA negotiations might take a long time, while PTA takes a much shorter period".

Franco Agustín Senilliani Melchior, head of the Economic and Trade Section of the Embassy of the Argentine Republic in India, said that textile is one of the major import items "which the country sources from Asian countries".

"Bangladesh should also consider the country as a potential market for textile and plastic items," he said.

Mariano Beheran, agricultural attaché, Embassy of the Argentine Republic in India, cited that Argentina can provide agriculture technology and know-how support, including seed technology, to increase Bangladesh’s capability in the sector.

He also suggested that Bangladesh could import cotton, milk powder and garlic from Argentina.

Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury, Secretary (West), Nayem Uddin Ahmed, Director General (Americas), Tarique Mahmud Pasha, Assistant Secretary (Americas) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh, also attended the meeting.

They proposed a collaboration in renewable energy between Bangladesh and Argentina.

Md Amin Helaly, Vice-President of FBCCI, Abul Kasem Khan and Amzad Hussain, Directors of FBCCI, and Md Mahfuzul Hoque, Secretary General of FBCCI, were also present at the meeting.

- UNB