Dhaka:Bangladesh and the Netherlands engaged in discussions on Thursday, covering a wide array of topics including political and economic developments, the Bangladesh-European Union Free Trade Agreement, LDC graduation, migration cooperation, and human capital development. Other areas of focus included semiconductor technology, education, sports, and both regional and multilateral issues.
According to United News of Bangladesh, these discussions took place during a meeting between the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, Joris van Bommel, and State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humaiun Kobir, at the Ministry in the afternoon.
The Dutch Ambassador informed the State Minister about the forthcoming visit of the Netherlands' Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sjoerd Sjoerdsma. He also congratulated Kobir on his recent appointment, expressing optimism about strengthening the relations between Bangladesh and the Netherlands.
Additionally, the Ambassador acknowledged the Netherlands' long-term support for Bangladesh's development, highlighting areas such as democratic transition, trade and investment, sustainable industrial development, and sectors like water and agriculture.
State Minister Kobir expressed gratitude for the Netherlands' ongoing support for the Rohingya and host communities, emphasizing the significance of safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable repatriation of the Rohingya to Myanmar.
The Dutch Ambassador reaffirmed his country's dedication to deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly in fields like water management, agriculture, shipping, maritime infrastructure, and people-to-people exchanges. Both parties emphasized the importance of sustained high-level engagement and enhanced cooperation in both bilateral and multilateral settings.