President Urges Italy to Make Investments in Bangladesh

President Mohammed Shahabuddin requested funding for developments in Bangladesh's export processing zones and high-tech parks on Tuesday.

"Italy is the sixth-largest export market for Bangladesh, and the value of our two-way trade exceeded $3 billion last year. He claims that Bangladesh's environment is now more welcoming to investors.

He said this while newly appointed Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro presented his credential to him at Bangabhaban, President’s press secretary Joynal Abedin told reporters after the meeting.

Welcoming the new ambassador, the president said that the relationship between Bangladesh and Italy is very deep. The celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries is a milestone in bilateral relations.

He said the prime minister's participation in the Food System Summit held in Italy in 2023 and the state visit to Italy in 2020 marked the beginning of a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries.

He said the recent signing of energy and cultural exchange agreement has brought more dynamism to the relationship between the two countries. Apart from this, there is a discussion about increasing co-operation in the fields of defense, immigration, security and cyber security.

Thanking Italy for its cooperation in dealing with the Rohingya crisis, the president requested Italy to continue its pressure for their repatriation to their homeland Myanmar.

Urging Italy to take more manpower from Bangladesh, the president welcomed the interest of the Italian government from Bangladesh under Italy's legal migration scheme.

The Italian ambassador said that his government attaches great importance to the development of relations with Bangladesh. Bangladesh's manpower is playing an important role in the development of Italy.

Praising the Bangladeshis living in Italy, he said that the Bangladeshis working in Italy are well-disciplined and there is very little crime among them.

He also appreciated the role of peacekeepers of Bangladesh in maintaining world peace.

The ambassador said that Italy will work on new areas to expand bilateral relations. The ambassador sought the president's cooperation in fulfilling his new duties.

Secretaries concerned to the President were also present during the meeting.

Source: UNB