The visiting ministers of the member states of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence Ganabhaban on Friday.
The foreign ministers, state ministers, and deputy ministers from IORA member states including India, the Maldives, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE, Comoros, and Yemen attended the group call.
The PM thanked them for attending the 22nd IORA Council of Ministers Meeting and also expressed her appreciation for their support extended to Bangladesh during its Chairship of IORA, said a press release of PMO press wing.
She informed the delegates about her government’s Vision 2041, which has been formulated for transforming the country into a self-reliant, prosperous, equity-based, and developed country by 2041.
All the visiting ministers lauded the PM Hasina for her able leadership in transforming Bangladesh as an economic role model and achieving commendable socio-economic progress.
Hasina highlighted that there should be a regular exchange of VVIP visits and visits between business delegations and Chamber officials. There should also be more B2B and people-to-people contacts to develop trade and economic relations, she said.
“All the delegates agreed that intra-regional investment flows are modest and that there is ample scope for expanding the bilateral trade and investment relations. The delegates also agreed that a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) among the IORA member states would be highly beneficial in this regard.
Hasina also conveyed her heartfelt gratitude and well wishes to the Heads of State and Heads of Governments of the Member States and Dialogue Partners of IORA.
Bangladesh hosted the 22nd IORA Council of Ministers Meeting on 24 November 2022, which was attended by the representatives of 23 member states and 10 dialogue partners.
Source: United News of Bangladesh