The first-ever foreign office consultation (FOC) between Bangladesh and Ethiopia was held in Dhaka Tuesday.
Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque led the Bangladesh delegation while the Ethiopian delegation was led by Ambassador Mahlet Hailu Guadye, Permanent Secretary (Foreign Secretary), says a press release.
The talks covered the whole gamut of bilateral issues including political relations and enhanced cooperation especially in the fields of trade and investment, education, culture, agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals and peace-keeping under the UN.
The Bangladesh head of delegation shared some of the economic and social sector success stories of the country. He informed the Ethiopian delegation about the provisions and privileges of foreign investment in Bangladesh.
Both sides discussed the various matters of the bilateral agenda, possible areas of cooperation and also stressed on the need for a framework for co-operation and consultation. The officials also focused on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The Ethiopian Foreign Secretary applauded the remarkable socio-economic growth of Bangladesh in recent years. Both sides agreed to work in the bilateral, regional and international fora, in particular in the peacekeeping area.
Before consultations, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on bilateral consultations between the two ministries was signed by the respective foreign secretaries.
Ambassador of Bangladesh to Ethiopia, Director General (Africa) of the foreign ministry and a number of senior officials from different government ministries and organizations were also present at the FOC.
Both Bangladesh and Ethiopia agreed to continue foreign office consultations on a regular basis at each other’s capital. The next round of FOC between the two countries would take place at a mutually convenient date and time in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.