Dhaka: Lulzim Pllana, Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to Bangladesh, paid his maiden call on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus this afternoon at the State Guest House Jamuna here. The Chief Adviser extended his heartfelt congratulations to Ambassador Pllana on his appointment and warmly welcomed him to Bangladesh. Reflecting on the spirit of the ‘July Uprising’ in Bangladesh, he commended the people of Kosovo for their steadfast commitment to freedom, peace, and national sovereignty.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Ambassador Pllana expressed his sincere gratitude to the government and people of Bangladesh for their unwavering support in recognizing the Republic of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state. The envoy recalled the contribution of Grameen Kosovo in helping the Kosovars rebuild their lives after an armed conflict in the region in the late 1990s. He emphasized the valuable partnership between Bangladesh and Kosovo and acknowledged the personal commitment of Professor Yunus.
Grameen Kosovo, established in 1999, is currently the leading microcredit organization in Kosovo, covering 219 villages and 20 municipalities, with 97 percent of its borrowers being women. Grameen Trust of Bangladesh is the implementing organization of the microcredit firm. The Chief Adviser recounted the challenging experience of establishing Grameen Bank in Kosovo, starting from scratch in a devastated region lacking currency and banking systems.
The discussion between the Chief Adviser and Ambassador Pllana also focused on deepening bilateral relations, with a particular emphasis on expanding trade and economic cooperation. The Chief Adviser highlighted several promising sectors for enhanced collaboration, including ready-made garments, pharmaceuticals, leather and leather goods, jute products, processed food, and light engineering. He further encouraged greater investment from Kosovo in Bangladesh’s Economic Zones.
Ambassador Pllana underscored the importance of fostering stronger ties between the business communities of both countries. He advocated for increased collaboration between chambers of commerce and industry as a means to stimulate mutual trade and investment. Highlighting the scope for greater people-to-people connectivity, the Chief Adviser urged the Ambassador to facilitate the recruitment of more Bangladeshi workers across various sectors in Kosovo. He also proposed increasing the enrollment of Bangladeshi students in Kosovan universities, including through the provision of scholarships, fellowships, and academic grants.