Addressing BD-Asean trade imbalances focused

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Thursday urged the Asean envoys stationed in Dhaka to work for the promotion of bilateral trade between Bangladesh and the Asean region with a focus on addressing the adverse trade imbalances of Bangladesh with their respective countries.He also urged the envoys of the Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries to consider recruiting more Bangladeshi nationals -- professional, skilled and semiskilled ones --in their respective countries. The Foreign Minister made the request when ambassadors and high commissioners of seven Asean countries jointly met him at his office, according to a Foreign Ministry media release. The envoys hoped that the cooperation between Bangladesh and their respective countries would further be strengthened and deepened for the overall prosperity of Bangladesh and the Asean region, according to a news agency.