Four to five MoUs likely to be signed during PM’s UAE visit: FM

Foreign minister Dr AK Abdul Momen Sunday said four to five Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) are likely to be signed between Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to the oil-rich country. 

“The MoU are not final yet … but there are 4 to 5 instruments are likely to be signed,” he told reporters at a briefing at the State Guest house Padma in the capital. 

The Prime Minister will leave here today on a 5-day official visit to the UAE at the invitation of Vice President and Prime Minister of the Middle East country Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the Ruler of Dubai. 

The foreign minister said, apart from holding bilateral meeting with her UAE counterpart, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also attend a ceremony at the Dubai Expo 2020 on March 8 marking the international women's day. 

During the visit, Dr 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. 

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

He said, during the bilateral talk, the Bangladesh side will discuss in increasing cooperation with the UAE in the fields of renewable energy, climate change and sustainable development. 

The foreign minister said Dhaka 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 Bangladesh’s capacity in the upcoming era of 4th Industrial Revolution.             

Besides, he said, a Joint Business Forum will be organized 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. 

Dr Momen said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will meet with Mother of the UAE Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Al Ketbi which is a rare opportunity. 

Besides, he said, Premier Sheikh Hasina will visit Bangladesh pavilion at the Dubai Expo from where Bangladesh government is presenting amazing success stories of the country’s socio e economic development in front of the international arena from the last year.  

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is also scheduled to lay 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, the foreign minister said, this Middle East country had reopened its manpower market for Bangladeshi nationals even amid the pandemic. “It is one of our diplomatic successes,” he added.    

He hoped that this high level visit will create more opportunities for the Bangladeshi human resources there. 

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to return here on March 12, said the foreign minister. Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and Secretary (East) Mashfee Binte Shams were also present.