Australian High Commissioner in Bangladesh Julia Niblett on Tuesday said her country would continue to work with Bangladesh for boosting bilateral trade and economy.
She also said Australia would provide support to Bangladesh in graduation from the LDC (least developed country) category, in human capital development and in addressing issues like the Rohingya crisis.
"There are many areas where Australia will continue to energetically work with Bangladesh bilaterally, regionally and internationally," she said.
She underscored the need for Bangladesh's preparation for graduation to a developing country from an LDC.
"LDC graduation will trigger loss of preferential trade agreements and Bangladesh needs to prepare for this," the envoy said adding that Australia eyes to help Bangladesh in this regard.
Bangladesh's growth trend will require foreign direct investment, export diversification, infrastructure and human resource development, she added.
She made the observations while presenting a keynote paper at a dialogue on 'Bangladesh-Australia Relations: Prognosis for the future', organised by Cosmos Foundation under its Ambassador's Lecture Series held at a city hotel.
Principal Research Fellow of the Institute of South Asian Studies, National University of Singapore Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury presided over the occasion while Cosmos Foundation Chairman Enayetullah Khan delivered the welcome speech.
Presenting the keynote speech, the high commissioner identified Bangladesh's export diversification, economic governance reforms, preparation for LDC graduation and ensuring investment climate as some of the vital issues for the economy.
She said bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Australia has grown by 550 per cent over the last decade, with almost $2.5 billion in two-way trade in 2018-19.
Regarding the Rohingya crisis, the envoy said, "We will continue to work with Myanmar, Bangladesh and other regional partners and broader international community towards a long-term and durable solution to the Rohingya crisis," she said.
"Australia will also continue to support efforts to create condition conducive to return to Myanmar, including through supporting the implementation of Rakhaine Advisory Commission recommendations in Myanmar," said Ms Niblett.
She concluded her speech summarising the approaches of the relations in three 'P's-potential for growth, pragmatic and people-centred.
Former foreign secretaries, ambassadors and embassy officials attended the event.
saif.febd@gmail.com