A two-day trade show titled ‘Showcase Korea’ began in Dhaka on Saturday demonstrating that Bangladesh and South Korea are willing to further strengthen and deepen the bilateral relations and take the relations into a higher level. Prime Minister's Adviser on Private Industries and Investment Salman F Rahman joined the opening session as the chief guest that is displaying the latest products and technologies. South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun, Mayor of North Dhaka City Corporation Atiqul Islam, President of the Korea-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KBCCI) and Chairman of Meghna Group of Industries Mostafa Kamal, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) President Md. Jashim Uddin and President of the Korean Community in Bangladesh Yoo Young-ho, among others, were present. Also Read: 2-day Korean fair begins in Dhaka Saturday The Showcase Korea 2023 is co-organised by the Korean Community in Bangladesh and the KBCCI. “As you see today, with the big and strong support of the business sectors, I have no doubt that the future of our relations, the next 50 years and 100 years, is very bright,” said Ambassador Lee. Read More: Ambassador Lee visits Matarbari Coal-powered Plant to observe South Korean company’s construction work  The Showcase Korea has been a trademark of the KBCCI, which was regularly organised before the pandemic to promote the trade and business relations of the two countries.

South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-Keun on Thursday said Bangladesh is an attractive investment destination for Korea. Korean companies will find more opportunities as the Government of Bangladesh makes strenuous efforts to improve business environment by removing obstacles, he said at a country lecture webinar titled “Exploring Korea- Bangladesh Relations in the Last Five Decades and Beyond.” Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) organized the event where the Ambassador delivered his lecture as guest speaker. Also read: Korea to provide $700m in soft loans between 2021-25 He said the future of Bangladesh- Korea relations looks very bright and it will get brighter with diversified success stories. Director General of BIISS Major General Md. Emdadul Bari delivered the welcome address and Chairman of BIISS Ambassador M. Fazlul Karim presided over the session and delivered the concluding remarks. Ambassador Lee highlighted that Bangladesh and Republic of Korea enjoy friendly relations since the establishment of their diplomatic relations when the Republic of Korea recognized newly independent Bangladesh on 12th May 1972. Also read: S Korea for diversifying areas of cooperation, elevating ties with Bangladesh The year 2021 marks the 49th anniversary of Korea’s recognition of Bangladesh. He mentioned that during the past five decades, the relationship between two countries has expanded and developed on every field of cooperation. Since the early 1980s, Korea has been the leading foreign investor in the RMG sector of Bangladesh. Korea continued to hold its position as a major foreign investor in Bangladesh. “Slow but steadily, more and more Korean companies started investing in different potential areas like electronics, automobiles, and ICTs,” said the Ambassador. BIISS Chairman Fazlul Karim said the year 2021 marks the 49th anniversary of Korea-Bangladesh relations and during the past five decades the two countries have developed and enjoyed strong ties and partnership in every aspect and every field of cooperation. Aside from the conventional areas of cooperation, he said, both nations are enhancing their efforts to diversify relations. “People-to-people contacts are one of them.” BIISS DG Emdadul Bari said Bangladesh and Korea have a cultural affinity that can be tapped into to nurture further cultural exchange and people-to-people contact. Besides, he said, with the rise of Korean film industry, Korean culture is earning a soft corner amongst our teens and youth, many of whom already were avid fans of K-Pop. Senior officials from different ministries, ambassadors and high commissioners, senior civil and military officials, media, academia, teachers and students from different universities participated in the webinar and shared their opinions in the open discussion session.

South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun has reaffirmed his commitment to strengthen engagement with Chattogram where more than 90 percent of exports and imports of Bangladesh passing through. He completed his three-day visit to Chattogram, the gateway to Bangladesh, on Monday and pledged to double his engagement there. His visit to Chattogram covered a wide range of engagements with the Korean community, business leaders and government authorities and development partners.  Congratulating the establishment of the Association of Koreans in 2021, Ambassador Lee reaffirmed his commitment to ensure safety and support the business activities of Korean people in Chattogram.

South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun visited the University of Dhaka on Wednesday and handed over 100 books and multimedia materials on Korea and Korean language learning to the University. DU Vice Chancellor Dr. Md. Akhtaruzzaman and Library Director Mr. Nasir Uddin Munsi were present. Both sides agreed to further promote collaborative activities between the Embassy and the University based on the various successful cooperation programmes they have made during the past decades. Congratulating the centenary anniversary of Dhaka University, Ambassador Lee also proposed to work closely together for furthering ties between Korea and Bangladesh, in particular towards the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2023. Read: Korean envoy visits NIANER; lauds role of nurses The Korea Corner was established at the University’s Central Library in July 2013 to promote the academic interest in Korea and Korea-Bangladesh relations among the University students, faculty members and general public.

South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun has appreciated the sacrifices and devotion of nurses at NIANER  in treating COVID-19 patients risking their own health.  NIANER, National Institute of Advanced Nursing Education & Research in Bangladesh, was established in 2016 with the support of the Korean Government. While visiting NIANER, the envoy said it is playing a crucial role in Bangladesh’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic by educating and training qualified nurse leaders. Also read: CSR brings opportunities for businesses: Korean envoy NIANER, first proposed to Korea during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Seoul in 2010, was formally inaugurated in May 2018 in the presence of the  Prime Minister of Bangladesh.