Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Saturday said Bangladesh wants to “flourish” its trade and economic relations with its global partners further keeping an open and inclusive policy in place.

“In the conduct of our foreign policy, we’ve always been open, democratic, inclusive and constructive. Our priority is to pursue our national developmental ambitions,” he said, describing Bangladesh as a land of opportunity and a vibrant economy.

The Foreign Minister made the remarks while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the “World Conference Series 2022 on Branding Bangladesh” at a city hotel.

With each of Bangladesh’s partner countries, Dr Momen said, the ties and engagements have considerable mutuality of interest and benefit. “The engagements are indeed to contribute to the fulfilment of our national and global developmental desires.”

In all their efforts, he said, their prime objective remains to secure a life of security, dignity and wellbeing for the people. “We want peace, prosperity and happiness for everyone. We want to walk together with you.”

Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman, State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam, Chief of Army Staff General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed, Mayor of Croydon, UK, Sherwan Chowdhury, Physician to the Prime Minister Dr ABM Abdullah, Director General of BMET Md Shahidul Alam, General Manager of Bangladesh Bank Kazi Rafiqul Hassan, among others, spoke at the event held with Chairperson of Center for Non-Resident Bangladeshis MS Shekil Chowdhury in the chair. Messages given by the President and Prime Minister were read out at the programme.

Dr Momen said their desire is to establish “Bangladesh” itself as a brand. “We want our stories to be echoed in every corner of the world.”

When people hear the word Bangladesh, the Foreign Minister said, he wants them to see a country of infinite potential and of an unimaginable depth – richly layered in the colours of human emotions and gallantly endowed in human spirit.

“Bangladesh is a land of opportunity. Here, in every layer of life, one can find resilience, bravery, determination, courage, inspiration, perseverance and diligence. Even in the darkness, in the weakness, one will always find light and strength in Bangladesh,” he said.

The Foreign Minister said they are working for a sustainable and inclusive economy that is being augmented with improved access to information, investor bases and asset classes.

For creating a strong brand of Bangladesh, he said, they are working on various soft power pillars- business and trade, governance, institutional relations, culture and heritage, media and communication, education and science, people and values, familiarity, reputation and influence.

Through internal nation branding, Dr Momen said, they plan on boosting our national brand equity by ensuring that it stays attractive to foreign investment, through efforts like building a talented and productive workforce.

“We’re on the way to becoming a digital economy and we aim to become a knowledge economy by 2041,” he said.

Dr Momen said there is a wide scope for much stronger investment in the ICT, health, education and capacity building, skill development sector. “But we need to have solid brand equity and brand preference as a destination.”

The idea is to project and sustain the image of Bangladesh as a hub of global economic, financial and trading, said the Foreign Minister. “In other words, the idea is to project and brand Bangladesh as a global incubator of value and sustainable economic worth.”

Dr Momen said they wish that the solid economic worth of the country is projected strongly and unequivocally as brand equity for the nation.