Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina receives her Thai counterpart Yingluck
Shinawatra at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Friday.
Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday called for narrowing down trade gap
between Bangladesh and Thailand for mutual benefit as she said
facilitating greater market access to each other's products and services
would further boost bilateral trade."We also need to work together with our private sectors to harness the full potential in our trade ties for our mutual gain," Hasina said.
The PM was addressing a luncheon programme hosted by her in honour of visiting Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.
According to Bangladesh Bank statistics, the trade gap between Bangladesh and Thailand stood at around US$ 830 million during 2011-12 fiscal.
Bangladesh imported goods worth about $880 million from Thailand and exported products valued at $51.4 million during the period.
Terming Bangladesh as an ideal destination for investment, Hasina sought more Thai investment, especially in infrastructure development, food processing, power generation, and oil and gas exploration sectors.
"With over 150 million populations and a steady 6.5 percent annual GDP growth rate, a vast and vibrant workforce and most liberal investment climate, Bangladesh offers an ideal destination for Thai investment, especially in infrastructure development, food processing, power generation, and oil and gas exploration sectors," she said.
The PM said Bangladesh deeply values its relationship with Thailand which is firmly rooted in our shared linguistic, religious and cultural heritage.
"Thailand occupies a very special place in our foreign policy priority and we deeply value our relationship with Bangkok which is firmly rooted in our shared linguistic, religious and cultural heritage," she said.
The premier said the steady growth in bilateral trade, increased number of high political level interactions, and greater people-to-people contacts, bear testimony to the time-tested relationship between our two countries, which is now moving towards a much higher plane.
"I believe enormous opportunities exist for greater collaboration in the areas of trade and investments, agriculture, energy, tourism, culture and education, science and technology, ICT, and security. We need to tap these exciting real potentials," she said.
The PM said the unique situation of Bangladesh and Thailand has turned them as the gateway to South and Southeast Asia and is destined to develop it as the natural bridge between the two regions. She said enhanced connectivity through road and sea links between Bangladesh and Thailand would not only benefit the two countries and their peoples, but also the entire region.
"We also need to expand air links connecting cities other than Dhaka and Bangkok, starting with resuming the Chiang Mai and Chittagong flights," she said.
Hasina said Bangladesh and Thailand are witnessing a dynamic and productive phase in their bilateral relations. "Your (Shinawatra) visit has added a new momentum to the existing friendly relations and ushered in a new era of engagement, cooperation and partnership between our two countries."
The PM said unwavering commitment of both countries to democracy, common concern on global and regional peace and security, and common aspiration for socio-economic development of our peoples, have brought the two nations closer.
"Your visit will further deepen the existing engagement and collaboration between our two countries," she said.
Hasina said Bangladesh admires stewardship of the Thai premier in the most challenging circumstances at domestic and global levels.
"Your astute leadership in steering the country out of the difficult economic situation, particularly following the devastating floods of 2011, has been most admirable," she said.
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