Madrid:Bangladesh and Spain have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, skilled migration, tourism, and cultural exchanges. This agreement aims to accelerate the conclusion of pending agreements to further strengthen relations between the two countries.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the understanding was reached during a meeting between State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and Spanish State Secretary for Foreign and Global Affairs Diego Martínez Belío in Madrid.
During the meeting, both sides explored opportunities to expand bilateral trade and investment, emphasizing strengthening business-to-business engagement, diversifying exports, and organizing trade exhibitions. They also discussed prospects for broadening cooperation in emerging areas such as the creative economy, arts, sports diplomacy, and tourism.
Shama underscored the potential for greater cultural cooperation and stressed the importance of expediting the conclusion of the proposed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cultural cooperation. She highlighted the Bangladesh government's focus on promoting sports as a means to strengthen people-to-people connections and foster closer bilateral relations.
The state minister acknowledged the valuable contributions of the Bangladeshi diaspora in Spain, describing the expatriate community as an important bridge between the two nations. She emphasized the need for safe, orderly, and legal migration pathways for skilled Bangladeshi workers and encouraged Spain to participate in the European Union's Talent Partnerships initiative to facilitate employment opportunities for Bangladeshis.
Shama reiterated Bangladesh's zero-tolerance policy against human trafficking and migrant smuggling, reaffirming the government's commitment to promoting regular and responsible labor mobility. The Spanish state secretary reaffirmed Madrid's commitment to expanding cooperation with Bangladesh across areas of mutual interest.
Both sides agreed to expedite the conclusion of bilateral instruments already under negotiation and advance discussions on other proposed agreements. They expressed their willingness to convene the second round of Bangladesh-Spain Foreign Office Consultations to review bilateral relations and identify new areas of cooperation.
At the outset of the meeting, Shama expressed heartfelt condolences over the tragic train accident in Toledo, Spain, which reportedly caused significant loss of lives, conveying her sympathies to the bereaved families and those affected by the accident.