Bangladesh, Laos agree to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, tourism
Sunday, 21 October 2007
Bangladesh and Laos Saturday agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and tourism sectors, reports UNB.
The broad-based agreement came at a meeting between visiting Laotian First Vice-foreign Minister Phongsavath Boupa and Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain at state guesthouse Padma in the city.
This is the first high-level official contact between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1988.
"We discussed how to develop our cooperation in trade, investment and tourism and increase people-to-people contact," Boupa told reporters.
He also said the two sides agreed in principle to ease the visa regime by offering on-arrival visa for officials and businessmen and exempt visa for holders of diplomatic passport.
Boupa hinted that Laotian businessmen might be interested in buying medicine from Bangladesh considering its quality and price as Laos imports medicines.
The bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Laos is very insignificant to be mentioned as both sides stressed the need for exchange of visits by the businessmen to explore cooperation in promising sectors.
The two sides also discussed how to improve connectivity between Bangladesh and Laos, the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia with a six million population.
The two sides hinted air and road links in future.
Presently, Dhaka and Laos are connected by indirect air links through Bangkok.
Narrating his country's history, Boupa said Laos was afflicted with civil war and the reign of colonial regimes. They are now trying to build up Laos and planning to shed LDC status by 2020 by eradicating poverty.
Touhid said, "The visit set the foundation of bilateral cooperation, as both the countries want to increase trade and economic cooperation."
Bangladesh and Laos have no diplomatic missions in each other's capital.
Touhid said they agreed to have honorary consuls as a first step towards establishing missions.
The broad-based agreement came at a meeting between visiting Laotian First Vice-foreign Minister Phongsavath Boupa and Foreign Secretary Touhid Hossain at state guesthouse Padma in the city.
This is the first high-level official contact between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1988.
"We discussed how to develop our cooperation in trade, investment and tourism and increase people-to-people contact," Boupa told reporters.
He also said the two sides agreed in principle to ease the visa regime by offering on-arrival visa for officials and businessmen and exempt visa for holders of diplomatic passport.
Boupa hinted that Laotian businessmen might be interested in buying medicine from Bangladesh considering its quality and price as Laos imports medicines.
The bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Laos is very insignificant to be mentioned as both sides stressed the need for exchange of visits by the businessmen to explore cooperation in promising sectors.
The two sides also discussed how to improve connectivity between Bangladesh and Laos, the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia with a six million population.
The two sides hinted air and road links in future.
Presently, Dhaka and Laos are connected by indirect air links through Bangkok.
Narrating his country's history, Boupa said Laos was afflicted with civil war and the reign of colonial regimes. They are now trying to build up Laos and planning to shed LDC status by 2020 by eradicating poverty.
Touhid said, "The visit set the foundation of bilateral cooperation, as both the countries want to increase trade and economic cooperation."
Bangladesh and Laos have no diplomatic missions in each other's capital.
Touhid said they agreed to have honorary consuls as a first step towards establishing missions.