Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought on Sunday cooperation from Italy to develop Bangladesh's leather sector, reports UNB.
"We need your cooperation in leather sector. Italian leather goods are good, Italians are very much careful about their leather goods," she said when the newly appointed Italian Ambassador in Bangladesh Enrico Nunziata called on her at her office.
PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed the reporters after the meeting.
He said the Prime Minister put emphasis on increasing the trade relations with Italy.
She welcomed the newly appointed ambassador and assured government's all out cooperation in discharging his duties.
Italian Ambassador in Bangladesh Enrico Nunziata said he has chosen Bangladesh for his work and he will work for promoting further the bilateral relations as well enhancing economic cooperation.
"Bangladesh has huge potential, we have to increase our trade relations," he said.
He put emphasis on increasing the relations between the chambers of commerce of the two countries. "We have to explore areas of cooperation," he added.
He also mentioned that Italy has formed a parliamentary group to promote relations and cooperation with Bangladesh.
Enrico Nunziata expressed his country's interest to set up training centres in Bangladesh for textile and other technologies.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday feared that vested quarters might exploit the frustrated Rohingya youths to materialise their ill motive.
"The young people who don't have any work are also not sure about their repatriation to their homeland and getting frustrated about their uncertain future. Vested groups can exploit those people for bad purposes," she said.
The Prime Minister expressed the apprehension while visiting Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom Mark Field, MP, met her at her office.
She also said the international community should mount strong pressure so Myanmar takes back their citizens.
PM's press secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters after the meeting.
He said Sheikh Hasina mentioned that the plight of the Rohingyas would get worse further during the monsoon. In this connection she said the government is preparing an island to relocate the Rohingyas temporarily for their better living.
Mentioned the relation between the UK and Bangladesh wonderful she recalled the support of the UK government and its people for their support during the Liberation War of Bangladesh.
The Prime Minister invited the UK entrepreneurs to come to Bangladesh with their investment.
Regarding the climate change issue she appreciated the UK for supporting Bangladesh. In this connection she said the government has already constituted a Climate Fund with its own resource and is constructing various infrastructures in the coastal belt areas keeping in mind the climate change issues.
She has struggled all through her life for restoration of democracy in the country, Hasina said adding media is enjoying total freedom in Bangladesh.
Mark Field congratulated Sheikh Hasina for her reelection last year.
He said Bangladesh has a very good potential and the relations between Bangladesh and the UK is growing fast.
Mark Field said the UK government would work with Bangladesh on climate change issue. He also mentioned that his country would cooperate Bangladesh in education sector.
Regarding the Rohingya issue he said that over one million Rohingyas are a big burden for Bangladesh.
Principal Secretary M Nojibur Rahman and British High Commissioner in Bangladesh Robert Chatterton Dickson were present during the call-on.
