Dhaka, Oslo keen to enhance economic partnership

Dhaka and Oslo are keen to broaden economic partnership through trade, investment and maritime sector cooperation while Bangladesh and Norway are celebrating 50 years of the bilateral relations.

The two countries expressed this interest at a bilateral meeting between foreign minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen and his visiting Norwegian counterpart Annekin Huitfeldt in the capital last evening, a foreign ministry press release said here today.

The newly appointed Norwegian foreign minister is on a two-day visit to Bangladesh marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries this year, reports BSS.

During the meeting, the two foreign ministers discussed in particular the potentials of investments in offshore renewable energy.

The Bangladesh foreign minister briefed his Norwegian counterpart about measures taken in building safety and green production facilities in the RMG sector.

The Norwegian minister also showed interest in the ship breaking industry and enquired about Bangladesh's plans concerning ratifying the Hong Kong Convention.

Momen gave an overview of the humanitarian crisis involving Myanmar's forcibly displaced Rohingya.

Huitfeldt appreciated Bangladesh's hospitality on humanitarian grounds and acknowledged the priority the Rohingya themselves attached to their safe and dignified repatriation to Myanmar.

Earlier in the day, the Norwegian foreign minister visited the Rohingya camps in Cox's Bazar. The two foreign ministers touched upon preparations for the next general elections in Bangladesh.

They also underscored the overriding priority for an effective ceasefire in Ukraine and expressed concern over the humanitarian situation.

Later, the two foreign ministers joined a reception hosted by the Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.