Dhaka can assist Kampala in many ways like micro-credit

FE Team | Published: September 19, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has formally invited Chief Adviser (CA) Fakhruddin Ahmed to attend the next Commonwealth Summit to be held in Kampala on November 23-25.
Ugandan State Minister for Foreign Affairs Isaac Musumba, who arrived in the city Tuesday, handed over the invitation letter to the CA at his office Tuesday afternoon, reports UNB.
Thanking the envoy for the letter, the chief adviser said he is looking forward to visiting Uganda to attend the Commonwealth Summit and expressed the hope that bilateral talks with Uganda would also take place during his tour.
Bangladesh attached great importance to its relations with Uganda, the CA said adding that both the countries were enjoying warm and cordial bilateral relations.
He said Bangladesh and Uganda also worked closely in different international fora like the UN, OIC and NAM.
The chief adviser lauded the socioeconomic achievements attained in Uganda under the leadership of President Yoweri K Museveni.
The Ugandan State Minister for Foreign Affairs stressed the need for further strengthening trade relations between the two countries and requested the CA to take a business delegation during his trip to Uganda.
Musumba observed that both the countries, as members of the OIC and the Commonwealth, could work closely in international finance, micro-credit and Islamic finance.
Reciprocating the minister's view, the CA said trade relations between the two countries should be expanded and stressed the importance of identifying some items by businessmen of both the countries to increase their trade volumes.
Listing a number of items, he said Bangladesh produced world class pharmaceuticals with competitive prices and exports those to Europe apart from readymade garments.
He said Bangladesh was willing to assist Ugandan people in many ways, including micro-credit, health and nutrition sectors through NGOs.
The Ugandan High Commissioner based in New Delhi and the CA's Press Secretary were also present.
Earlier, talking to reporters at a brief meeting with the Foreign Affairs Adviser, Musumba said he came here with "a special message and invitation from President Yoweri Museveni to his brother and colleague the CA to attend the summit."
Fifty-four Heads of State or Government of former colonies of Britain meet every two years under the banner of the Commonwealth for strengthening cooperation in different fields among the member states.
Foreign Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said Bangladesh and Uganda had many commonalties and both the countries were members of the Commonwealth and the OIC.
He said Dhaka and Kampala had great economic potential, which could be utilised for mutual benefit.
He said a business delegation from Bangladesh was likely to visit Uganda shortly to explore the areas of cooperation for increasing trade and economic ties.