President for stronger BD-Pak co-op in trade, education

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Sunday called for strengthening cooperation between Bangladesh and Pakistan in trade, business and investment, air connectivity, education and training, and other areas of mutual interest.

He made the call when Pakistani High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban, President’s Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam told UNB.

During the meeting, the envoy reiterated an invitation from Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to President Mirza Fakhrul to visit Pakistan.

The President thanked him for the invitation and also invited the Pakistani President to visit Bangladesh at his convenience.

Mirza Fakhrul said Pakistan is an important partner of Bangladesh in various fields, adding that expanding trade and economic activities between the two countries will benefit the people of both countries.
He stressed the need to increase contacts between businesspeople and entrepreneurs of the two countries and explore new trade opportunities.

The President said Pakistani ready-made garments, particularly women’s clothing, are quite popular in Bangladesh.

He emphasised the need to tap the potential for exporting Pakistani ready-made garments, cotton yarn and other products to Bangladesh while making bilateral trade more balanced.

Imran Haider said a trade fair featuring Pakistani products will be held in Dhaka in October. He also called for organising a similar trade fair in Pakistan featuring Bangladeshi products.

He said Pakistani entrepreneurs are interested in undertaking joint ventures with Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in manufacturing footballs and other sports equipment.

Referring to the resumption of direct air connectivity between Dhaka and Karachi this year, the high commissioner said the connectivity is playing a positive role in promoting bilateral trade and business, medical tourism and people-to-people contacts.

He stressed the need to increase the number of flights between the two cities.

Praising the quality of tea produced in Bangladesh, Imran Haider called for increasing tea exports from Bangladesh to the Pakistani market by utilising the existing duty-free facility.

The President said there is considerable scope for increasing exports of Bangladeshi ceramic products, betel leaf and other agricultural products, medicines and other quality goods to Pakistan.�"UNB