Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday (October 22, 2023) described Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to Brussels as “extremely significant” which will help take Bangladesh’s ties with the European Union (EU) to a new height. “This is a very significant visit. This is an achievement for us,” he told reporters, noting that the visit is happening at a “crucial moment.” Asked why it is a crucial time, Momen referred to the upcoming general election of Bangladesh. “We hope the visit will be very successful and fruitful.” The prime minister will be visiting Brussels from October 24-26 at the invitation of European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen. Also read: PM Hasina to attend Global Gateway Forum 2023 in Brussels this month: Momen The foreign minister said that the EU will provide Euro 407 million to Bangladesh in the form of concessional loans and grants. Of this, Euro 350 million will be concessional loans, he said. Responding to a question, the foreign minister said the EU will send a seven-member team and Bangladesh will not spend money on foreign election observers. The prime minister will attend the Global Gateway Forum, which will bring together representatives of governments from the European Union and around the world along with the private sector, civil society, leading thinkers, financing institutions, and international organisations. The event will be held in the Belgian capital on October 25, 26. The prime minister will hold bilateral meetings with European Commission Vice President and European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday. The two sides are likely to shed light on taking the 50-year relations to new a height, Momen said. Also read: Foreigners should watch Mujib biopic to know Bangladesh, its history: Momen A loan agreement worth 350 million Euros will be signed between the Economic Relations Division and European Investment Bank during the visit. The PM will deliver her speech at the opening plenary session of the Global Gateway Forum which will be held for the first time. She will also hold a meeting with European Investment Bank President Dr Werner Hoyer, Momen said. European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič and Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen will separately meet the prime minister. She will attend a dinner to be hosted by the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Also read: No one wins by killing innocent people: Momen tells OIC meeting in Jeddah PM Hasina will also attend a civic reception to be arranged by Bangladeshi expatriates in Belgium. She is scheduled to leave for Brussels on Tuesday morning by a commercial flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines. She will leave Brussels on Thursday night and arrive in Dhaka on Friday, said Momen who will accompany the premier. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, invited PM Hasina when they met at the G20 Summit recently. The EU's Global Gateway strategy connects countries and regions around the world by encouraging public and private investments in a global network of transportation and supply chains, green energy, modern telecommunications, education and research, with an emphasis on sustainable development and European values, such as good governance, transparency and equal partnership.

European Union (EU) Ambassador and Head of Delegation to Bangladesh Charles Whitely has hoped that Bangladesh-EU ties would grow significantly in the next 10 years. The ambassador attended the programme "Meet the ambassador," hosted by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) in collaboration with Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) Bangladesh Saturday. Whitely noted that as Bangladesh is about to graduate from the least developed country (LDC) category, there will be changes in the country's current Everything but Arms (EBA) preferential trade agreement with the EU. Bangladesh will gradually shift to the EU's Generalised Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+) trade programme, which gives developing countries a special incentive to pursue sustainable development and good governance. Eligible countries have to implement 27 international conventions on human rights, labour rights, the environment, and good governance. According to the ambassador, the EU delegation is now trying to develop political engagement with Bangladesh. The EU is also interested in partnering with Bangladesh in the areas of security, maritime, energy, and climate change. Read: Padma Bridge a symbol of pride for developing world: Hun Sen Regarding the trade and economy of Bangladesh, Whitely said he is working to raise European investment in Bangladesh, which Whitely said is still low compared to European investment in other Asian nations such as Vietnam. He also stated that the success of Bangladesh's apparel sector must continue, and the green factories of the country are the real selling point of it in the European markets. Whitely also said, for Bangladesh, there is potential for upside in startups, the IT sector, and niche markets such as bicycle manufacturing. Regarding Rohingya repatriation, the envoy said it needs to happen as soon as possible. "Myanmar has not been held accountable for its genocidal actions." The EU placed sanctions on Myanmar and suspended development assistance. Regarding geopolitics, the ambassador said the EU is hoping for a diplomatic solution to the war in Ukraine, and the current sanctions the EU has placed on Russia are in no way hurting the international food trade. Read: Dhaka calls for strengthening global solidarity, adopting well-coordinated response to global challenges Also, Whitely said the EU is interested in expanding its footprint in Asia through its Indo-Pacific strategy, in which Bangladesh is a key partner. About the EU's current plan for providing independent observers during the next national elections, the ambassador said: "I can only say that I don't know. There is nothing decided at this moment, and it's still 18 months away." The discussion started with an opening speech from Manjur A Chowdhury, chairman of CGS and chairman of the National River Protection Commission. In his keynote speech, Whitely gave a brief overview of the EU and its functions. The conversation was moderated by CGS Executive Director Zillur Rahman.