Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Sunday stressed the need for signing preferential trade agreement (PTA) or free trade agreement (FTA) with four South American countries as Bangladesh will graduate into a developing country in 2026.The premier’s remarks came when Brazilian Ambassador to Bangladesh Paulo Fernando Dias Feres paid a courtesy call on her at the her official Ganabhaban residence. She said Bangladesh is keen to sign PTA or FTA with Brazil and three other MERCOSUR (The Southern Common Market) countries – Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay – soon.There is a huge prospect of business expansion between the two countries, she said. PM’s speech writer Md. Nazrul Islam briefed reporters after the meeting.
Sheikh Hasina requested the Brazil government to prioritise expansion of bilateral trade and business. Noting that discussions are continuing over signing PTA or FTA with the MERCOSUR countries, the PM urged for completing the signing process of the agreements soon. Bangladesh mainly exports pharmaceuticals items and RMG products to Brazil and imports soybean, raw sugar and wheat.The PM also emphasised on enhancing agricultural cooperation between Bangladesh and Brazil.
Noting that pharmaceutical items are now facing some restrictions over registration process in the Brazilian market, she asked the Brazil side to ease the restrictions. About the Rohingya issue, she said Bangladesh is providing shelter to more than 11 lakh displaced Rohingyas, which is a huge burden for the country. She said the displaced Rohingya population continues is growing with the births of 30,000 babies every year.
The PM asked Brazil to play a decisive role in the United Nations Security Council over the Rohingya issue. She congratulated the newly elected Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Sheikh Hasina expressed profound grief at the death of Brazilian football Legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento Pele and conveyed condolences to his family and the people of Brazil.The Brazilian ambassador said Bangladeshi readymade garments have a great demand in the Brazilian market. Brazil can be a major market for Bangladeshi RMG products, he added.
He said there is a huge scope to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between the two countries, particularly in trade and technology. Paulo Fernando put emphasise on enhancing the people-to-people and business-to-business contact between the two countries.Regarding the bilateral agricultural cooperation, the envoy said agricultural good practices, experiences and technology can be shared with each other.PM’s Ambassador-at-Large Mohammad Ziauddin, Principal Secretary M. Tofazzel Hossain Miah and Foreign Senior Secretary Masud Bin Momen were present at the meeting.
