Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin has said Bangladesh is eager to boost bilateral trade and economic relations with Algeria.
The Foreign Secretary, now in Algeria, presented the existing and potential areas of trade that could happen between the two countries.
Among the areas, trade in apparels, pharmaceuticals, industrial raw materials sourcing like LNG, metals, and electronic and light engineering products came under discussion.
The Foreign Secretary had a meeting with the President of Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) in Algiers on February 3.
He is now leading a Bangladesh delegation in Algiers, capital of Algeria, for the second Foreign Office Consultation between the two countries, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Highlighting the expanding nature of bilateral trade, the Foreign Secretary expressed optimism that more could be done if more and more business enterprises from both the countries explore further avenues of engagement.
He also suggested the Chamber to explore the possibility of joint ventures in the areas of ship building, ICT and agriculture.
The President of the Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industry welcomed the Foreign Secretary and expressed Algeria’s interest and readiness in deepening economic ties with Bangladesh.
He acknowledged Bangladesh’s achievements in export-oriented industries and underscored the potential for increased trade in energy, construction, and agro-processing.
The Foreign Secretary while echoing the same sentiment laid out action plans which includes among others, an online meeting to kick off the bilateral interaction for 2025, facilitating the participation in each other’s international trade fairs, formation of joint business forum, exchange of business delegations in each other’s capitals and agreed upon signing of an MoU, pending for signature between the FBCCI and ACCI.
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The President of Algerian Chamber of Commerce and Industries welcomed the proposals put forward by the Foreign Secretary and said that Algeria would encourage Bangladeshi companies’ participation in their upcoming International Trade Fair and Intra Africa Trade Fair to be held in Algiers in June and September 2025 respectively.
He assured that his Chamber will accord priority to the proposals and help implement the recommendations.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to strengthening Bangladesh-Algeria trade relations, fostering economic growth, and promoting business-to-business connections between the two friendly nations.
During the meeting, from Algerian side, the President of Tizi Ouzou Province Chamber of Commerce, President of Boumerdes Province Chamber of Commerce, Secretary General of ACCI and from Bangladesh side, Bangladesh Ambassador to Algeria, Additional Secretary of Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Director of Foreign Secretary’s Office, Senior Assistant Secretary Africa Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Head of Chancery of Bangladesh Embassy in Algiers were present.