DHAKA, Oct 1, 2020 (BSS) – State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam today said regional cooperation is one of the top foreign policy priorities of Bangladesh for attaining sustainable development in this region.
“We firmly believe it is essential that all the countries of the region develop together for long term stability and sustainable development of this region,” he said.
The state minister made the remarks at the virtual Horasis Extraordinary Meeting held on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly on Horasis new ground-breaking digital conferencing platform.
Shahriar said the countries of the region have to implement pre-declared reform measures and launch a new wave of structural reform, particularly in all factors of production such as land, labour and capital to retain growth.
“These are urgent in attracting investment and expanding the economy’s base,” he added.
The state minister said trade and investment regimes should encourage the economic agents to participate in global production and manufacturing networks which is critical in elevating the region’s economic standing at a time when the global trading regime is turning increasingly competitive.
“Bangladesh has mooted that we must focus on the countries of South Asia, sub-regionally, as in BBIN or regionally as in SAARC and BIMSTEC and harness all available synergies and vast potentials of this region for mutual benefits,” he said.
He said the Bangladesh government under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has undertaken a development vision to transform the country into a developing country by 2021, a developed one by 2041 and a prosperous delta by 2100.
“We need to formulate public policies and realign resources so that the development visions could be implemented without much hindrance,” Shahriar said.
Because of the huge internal demand, he said, the region can remain relatively stable vis-à-vis global economic and political setbacks and uncertainties.
However, Shahriar said the region is yet to take full advantage of its geographical contiguity and togetherness.
Nepal foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Maldives foreign minister Abdullah Sahid and Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways of India VK Singh also attended the meeting, among others.