The Republic of Serbia expressed deep interest in investing in building food storages in Bangladesh.
Serbia showed the interest when its Foreign Affairs Minister Nikola Selakovic made a courtesy call on Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Senior Vice-President Mostofa Azad Chowdhury Babu at the apex trade-body office in the capital on Thursday.
The Serbian minister said his country's storage companies are one of the best in the world.
"Many of these companies have expanded their business to different countries in Africa. Bangladesh can also be benefitted from Serbia's investment in this sector."
Mentioning that Serbia has free trade agreements with Europe, the Eurasian Economic Union and Turkey, he opined that Bangladesh would gain by establishing joint ventures with those free trade countries and through export at zero duty to the countries.
The foreign minister also expressed interest in signing two agreements on double taxation and investment protection and promotion with Bangladesh to increase bilateral trade.
"Serbia is also keen to take skilled and semi-skilled manpower from Bangladesh in construction and agriculture sectors."
He also urged Bangladeshi students to go to Serbia, specifically to study agricultural engineering.
The FBCCI senior vice president said 30 per cent of agricultural products are wasted in Bangladesh every year due to lack of proper packaging, transportation and storage facilities.
"The country has cold storage for potatoes only. There is no storage facility for other crops. Hence, Serbia's proposal for investment in building storage facilities here will open up the door of technology transfer."
The two sides also agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding between the Serbian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the FBCCI soon, he added.
The meeting also discussed import of sunflower seeds from Serbia, contract cultivation of wheat in that country, and establishment of Serbian embassy in Dhaka.
Serbia's Assistant Minister for Bilateral Relations Vladimir Maric and Foreign Minister's Adviser Ivan Jaksic, FBCCI Vice-President Habib Ullah Dawn, and directors Amzad Hossain, Shomi Kaiser, Dr. Nadia Binte Amin and Abul Kasem Khan, and Secretary General Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque were also present, among others, on the occasion.
talhabinhabib@yahoo.com