Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Poland reached $1.2 billion in the last fiscal year (2018-19), foreign secretary Masud Bin Momen said on Wednesday, expecting that both sides would work together to boost bilateral trade and investment.
He was talking to reporters after the first ever foreign office consultation between the two countries at the state guest house Meghna in the city.
Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Przydacz led the Polish delegation while Mr Masud led the Bangladesh side.
They reviewed the progress made in different areas of cooperation in the past and discussed the future course of cooperation.
At the meeting, Bangladesh urged the Polish government to encourage Polish investors and entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh in Hi-Tech Parks and Specialized Economic Zones (SEZs).
"The Polish deputy foreign minister too pointed out that both Bangladesh and Poland may realise the huge potentials of bilateral trade and commerce," Mr Masud said.
Poland focused on enhanced business contacts in the form of exchange of visits of business delegations as well as those between chambers of commerce of the two countries, he added.
Officials said both the sides agreed to increase trade and investment through various mechanisms such as setting up a joint committee, exchanging visits of business delegations, and signing instruments of cooperation.
In addition to that, Bangladesh and Poland agreed to reinforce and establish cooperation in the sectors like education, culture, agriculture, energy and mining, science and technology, ICT, defence and blue economy, they said.
Bangladesh also requested the Polish delegation to ease the visa issuance procedure for Bangladeshi students, businessmen and visitors.
Mentioning the availability of a large pool of skilled and semi-skilled professionals and workers in the country, Bangladesh urged Poland to import skilled and semi-skilled workers from Bangladesh to ease the labour shortage in Poland.
Appreciating the Polish government's continued support to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue, the Bangladesh side requested Poland to continue to extend the support as a responsible member of the international community to ensure safe and dignified return of the Rohingya to their homeland.
Both sides also agreed to maintain possible cooperation in different international fora and platforms.
After the consultations, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Poland was signed to hold such consultations on regular basis.
Later, Deputy Foreign Minister of Poland Marcin Przydacz paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen at his office at his ministry.
At the meeting, the Polish deputy minister said Poland is eager to continue cooperating with Bangladesh.
He further informed that the Polish government is considering reopening its embassy in Dhaka.
Dr Abdul Momen emphasised the need for exchange of high-level visits between the two countries.
He also urged the Polish delegation to encourage Polish investors and entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh in various sectors like blue economy, shipbuilding, agricultural, food processing and energy cooperation.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com