ZCZC
BSS-48
MOMEN-BIMSTEC-COVID-19
Momen urges BIMSTEC to play instrumental role in addressing COVID-19
DHAKA, Feb 8, 2021 (BSS) – Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today urged BIMSTEC to play an instrumental and pivotal role in addressing social and economic impacts of COVID-19 through establishing a strong partnership and solidarity among its member states.
“A timely and effective response to COVID-19 can enable the BIMSTEC member states to limit the potentially devastating impact on its people and economy and find out suitable remedies for the pandemic already caused,” he said.
The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) is a group of seven nations of South and South East Asia – Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. These are among the countries, which are dependent on the Bay of Bengal.
The foreign minister was addressing the virtual inaugural session of ‘Bay of Bengal Economic Forum 2021’, organized by South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM) to discuss post COVID challenge in the region.
The foreign minister said the BIMSTEC process must produce results that will emerge from more trade and investment backed by transport connectivity in the region leading to more employment generation for our people.
“It is now important to make all entities of BIMSTEC process fully functional and operational,” he said and emphasized on expediting the implementation of BIMSTEC Free Trade area and finalize the connectivity related agreements.
The sectors of cooperation in the fields of agriculture, energy, public health, technology and ICT needs to be bolstered while more focus should be given on emerging non-traditional security threats like COVID 19, he observed.
“Finalizing BIMSTEC FTA (free trade agreement) and BIMSTEC transport connectivity master plan will facilitate trade and investment in the region resolving unemployment problem,” he observed.
He said Bangladesh is celebrating the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the charismatic and visionary leader who first dreamt of achieving economic and social progress of the people of this region through working with the neighbours.
Regional cooperation is still a foreign policy priority of Bangladesh government today, he added.
He recalled that Bangladesh joined as a founding member of BIMSTEC Forum born through Bangkok Declaration in 1997 during the first tenure of Bangabandhu’s able daughter Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister.
Bangladesh remains committed to regional cooperation through BIMSTEC movement which emerged as one of the most important regional forums in Asia, he added.
BSS/ASG/TA/RY/21:45hrs