New york: Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay expressed a strong interest in signing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh and connecting the two countries’ economic zones to enhance trade and investment opportunities.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Prime Minister Tobgay conveyed his enthusiasm during a meeting with Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at the United Nations headquarters in the USA. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly. Tobgay suggested that linking Bhutan’s Special Economic Zone, Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), with Bangladesh’s Special Economic Zone in Kurigram, which has been officially allocated for Bhutanese investors, would be mutually beneficial.
Professor Yunus welcomed the proposals and emphasized the importance of exploring various avenues to expand trade and investment between the two nations. He noted that improved connectivity, trade, and investment could elevate bilateral relations.
The Bhutanese prime minister also discussed promoting religious tourism, highlighting the historical spread of Buddhism by Bangladeshi monks in Bhutan. He expressed Bhutan’s eagerness to share its hydroelectric potential and openness to investment from Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies. Additionally, he sought Bangladesh’s support for establishing fiber optic connectivity in Bhutan.
The discussion also covered the Rohingya crisis, with Tobgay confirming Bhutan’s participation in an upcoming UN-organized plenary session on the issue on September 30. He praised Professor Yunus’s leadership, describing Bangladesh as being under ‘good hands’ and referred to Yunus as his ‘role model,’ affectionately calling him ‘My Professor.’
Tobgay commended the design of Bangladesh’s new chancery building in Thimphu, which was inaugurated on September 9 with the theme ‘Bay of Bengal at the Foothills of the Himalayas.’ Professor Yunus extended an invitation to Prime Minister Tobgay to visit Bangladesh, which the Bhutanese leader accepted, indicating the possibility of a visit before Bangladesh’s planned general elections in February next year.