Ankara: Bangladesh and Trkiye have initiated discussions to expand bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, with specific focus areas including solar energy, exploration and development of mineral resources, LNG transportation and related infrastructure, and pipeline connectivity between Bangladesh's offshore and island facilities and the mainland.
According to United News of Bangladesh, these discussions took place during a recent meeting between Trkiye's Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Bangladesh Ambassador to Trkiye M. Amanul Haq at the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources in Ankara. The two sides explored potential areas for practical cooperation and discussed opportunities to further strengthen their collaboration in the energy and mineral resources sectors.
During the meeting, Ambassador Haq extended an invitation from Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman to Minister Bayraktar to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient early date. Minister Bayraktar accepted the invitation and expressed his intention to visit Bangladesh by the end of this year to further explore opportunities for cooperation in the energy sector.
The Turkish Minister also directed his officials to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for signing at the next possible opportunity. Ambassador Haq presented a proposed draft MoU aimed at establishing a framework for enhanced bilateral cooperation in the energy sector between Bangladesh's Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources and Trkiye's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief of Mission Dr Shahanoor Alam and Commercial Counsellor Akram Hossain from the Bangladesh Embassy in Ankara, as well as senior officials from Trkiye's Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, including the director general responsible for international affairs and cooperation and Adviser to the Minister Hamit Can Bas. The discussions highlighted the mutual interest of both countries in strengthening bilateral relations and developing practical cooperation in the energy sector.