Shawdesh Desk:

Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expected to sign four to five deals during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to the oil-rich Gulf nation to boost their economic cooperation and take their existing bilateral relations to new heights.

Briefing reporters at State Guesthouse Padma on Sunday, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will leave here on Monday for the United Arab Emirates on a five-day official visit at the invitation of UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the Ruler of Dubai.

Apart from holding a bilateral meeting with her UAE counterpart, the Bangladesh Prime Minister will also attend a ceremony at the Dubai Expo 2020 on March 8, marking International Women Day, he added.

During the visit, Momen said, Bangladesh will emphasis on establishing ‘Direct Shipping’ line with the UAE to increase import of Bangladeshi goods to reduce the trade gap between the two countries.

In reply to a question, he said Bangladesh agreed in principle to award one of the UAE’s world renowned port management companies to build one of the Bay terminals that are planned to set up adjacent to new Potenga port.

Highlighting the issues to be discussed, the Foreign Minister mentioned that Bangladesh side will discuss how to increase cooperation with the UAE in the fields of renewable energy, climate change and sustainable development during the bilateral talk.

Bangladesh is keen to start a new chapter of cooperation with the UAE in the field of ICT and artificial intelligence through experience and knowledge sharing that will enable the South Asian country’s capacity in the upcoming era of the fourth Industrial Revolution, Momen said.

He further said a Joint Business Forum will be organised between business companies of the two countries. “I hope it will be very lucrative for our trade and commerce sector… it may create new field of investment,” he added.

The foreign minister also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will meet with UAE’s Mother of the UAE Sheikh Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi which is a rare opportunity.

Sheikh Hasina will also visit Bangladesh pavilion at the Dubai Expo from where Bangladesh government is presenting amazing success stories of the country’s socioeconomic development in front of the international arena from the last year.

The Premier is also scheduled to lay a foundation stone of new campus of ‘Bangladesh English Private School’ run by the Bangladesh community in Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE.

Terming the UAE as the second largest remittance sending country by the Bangladeshi expatriates, Momen said the Middle East country reopened its manpower market for Bangladeshi nationals even amid the pandemic. “It is one of our diplomatic successes,” he added.

Momen hoped that this high-profile visit will create more opportunities for the Bangladeshi human resources in the UAE.

Ending her visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to return Dhaka on March 12.

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Secretary (East) Mashfee Binte Shams were also present at the press briefing.