DHAKA, May 9, 2017 (BSS)-Bangladesh and Qatar on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at further enhancing cooperation between the central banks of the two countries.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and Qatar Central Bank Governor Sheikh Abdulla Bin Saoud Al-Thani signed the agreement following a meeting at the Qatar Central Bank in Doha on the second day of Ali’s three-day official visit to the Gulf state.
During the meeting, Bangladesh foreign minister and Qatar central bank
governor held fruitful talks on further bolstering cooperation between the two central banks for the benefit of the two nations, according to a message received here this morning.
While appreciating the Bangladesh leadership for achieving a rapid
economic progress, the Qatar central bank governor proposed sending a Qatari delegation to Bangladesh to discuss the ways and means of cooperation between the two central banks under the purview of the MoU.
The foreign minister intimated the ongoing projects in Bangladesh and
elaborated the policy of regional connectivity and economic integration adhered by Bangladesh and said that the Bangladesh Bank governor may also visit Qatar to further deepening this cooperation.
Later, Foreign Minister Mahmood Ali called on the chief executive
officer of the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), a single authority that decides on Qatari investments abroad, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Thani at the QIA Headquarters.
During the meeting, Mahmood Ali briefed the QIA chief on the ongoing
development activities in the country saying Bangladesh attained 7.1 percent GDP growth rate in the last fiscal year and poised to achieve more growth in the current fiscal year.
“With the continued economic prospect, Bangladesh is looking forward to achieving an 8 percent or more growth leading to 2021,” he added.
The CEO of Qatar Investment Authority lauded Bangladesh’s remarkable
progress and expressed willingness of the Qatar government to invest in LNG,power generation, Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and other infrastructural development projects in Bangladesh.
Foreign Minister Ali informed that a high powered Bangladesh delegation would visit Qatar to discuss the possible areas of economic and development cooperation with Qatar on the sidelines of the 17th Doha Economic Forum to be held from May 14-15, 2017.
Ali later called on the vice chairman of Qatar Chamber of Commerce and
Industries Mohamed bin Ahmed bin Twar.
Appreciating Bangladeshi workers in Qatar, the vice chairman stressed
the need to have skilled and professional work force from Bangladesh in Qatar.
Foreign Minister Ali expressed Bangladesh’s readiness to engage with
Qatari government to set up a mechanism for the recruitment and proposed establishing training centers for Qatar-bound Bangladeshi workers with the assistance of Qatar government.
They also discussed the rapid economic progress of Bangladesh, ways to
increase the bilateral trade and investment and regular exchange of business delegations.
During his three-day official visit to Qatar at the invitation of his
Qatar counterpart, the Bangladesh foreign minister visited a newly developed area in Doha- the Katara Cultural Village yesterday.
He also visited the art gallery, where an exhibition of Bangladeshi
artists is being held. Bangladesh embassy in Qatar organized the exhibition.
The foreign minister and his delegation returned Dhaka this morning by
wrapping up the visit to the Gulf state, the message added.