DHAKA, Sept 13, 2018 (BSS) – Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed today said in
Hanoi that Bangladesh and Vietnam would sign free-trade agreement (FTA) soon
to boost bilateral trade.
“Vietnam’s Prime Minister Niguyan Xuan Phaok has welcomed Bangladesh’s
proposal and expressed his country’s interest to sign FTA,” said the minister
after a meeting with the Vietnamese premier at the latter’s office, said a
ministry release here.
Referring to the longstanding bilateral trade and commerce relations
between Bangladesh and Vietnam, Tofail said as the LDC’s coordinator in 2007
he had played a pivotal role for Vietnam’s WTO membership.
Recalling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Vietnam in 2012 and
President Abdul Hamid’s visit in 2015, the commerce minister said bilateral
relationship has been strengthened further through Vietnamese President Tran
Dai Quang’s visit to Bangladesh in 2018.
Praising the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Bangladesh’s
development, the Vietnamese Premier said both the countries have huge
potentiality to expand bilateral trade and business.
Vietnamese Premier also told the commerce minister that his country is keen
to invest in Bangladesh’s gas, agriculture, education and health sectors.
Bangladesh Ambassador Samina Naz and Vietnamese deputy minister for trade
were present.