Diplomatic Correspondent: Bangladesh and the Netherlands have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with a focus on trade and investment, sustainable industrial development, water management, agriculture, migration and human capital development.
The commitment was reiterated when Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Joris van Bommel paid a courtesy call on State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka on Thursday.
During the meeting, the ambassador congratulated Humaiun Kobir on his recent assumption of office and expressed confidence that relations between the two countries would grow further through enhanced cooperation across various sectors.
The state minister expressed appreciation for the Netherlands` longstanding support for Bangladesh`s development, particularly in democratic transition, trade and investment, sustainable industrial development, water management and agriculture.
The discussions covered a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues, including political and economic developments, a proposed Bangladesh-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), Bangladesh`s graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category, migration cooperation, human capital development, semiconductor technology, education and sports.
Both sides also discussed regional and multilateral issues, highlighting the importance of continued dialogue and cooperation in addressing shared challenges and advancing common interests.
On the Rohingya crisis, Humaiun Kobir thanked the Netherlands for its continued support for Rohingya refugees and the communities hosting them in Bangladesh.
He reiterated Bangladesh`s position that the Rohingya must be able to return to Myanmar in a safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable manner, stressing the importance of a lasting solution to the protracted humanitarian crisis.
The Dutch ambassador reaffirmed his country`s commitment to further deepening bilateral cooperation, particularly in water management, agriculture, shipping, maritime infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges.
He also briefed the state minister on the upcoming visit of Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, the Netherlands` Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation.
The proposed visit is expected to provide an opportunity to further strengthen engagement between the two countries and explore avenues for expanding cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Both sides underscored the importance of sustained high-level engagement and closer collaboration in bilateral and multilateral forums.
The renewed commitment comes as Bangladesh seeks to expand its international economic partnerships, prepare for the challenges and opportunities associated with LDC graduation, and attract greater investment to support sustainable development.
The Netherlands, with its expertise in water management, agriculture, shipping and maritime infrastructure, remains an important development partner for Bangladesh. Closer cooperation in these areas could help both countries explore new opportunities for trade, investment, technological exchange and sustainable growth.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared interest of Dhaka and The Hague in building on their longstanding partnership and broadening cooperation to address emerging economic, environmental and humanitarian challenges.
