Staff Reporter :
Hungary is eager to collaborate with Bangladesh in the realms of economic cooperation and health, and they have formalised this commitment by signing three Memoranda of Understanding.
Meanwhile, Ghana has emphasised the importance of bilateral trade and investment for the mutual benefit of both nations.
Besides, Ghana has requested Bangladesh to open a mission there to make the tie stronger.
The matters came during separate bilateral meetings with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade peter Szijjarato and Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday.
During the meeting, Momen and Peter discussed various bilateral issues, including food security, energy security, and climate change.
They also expressed a shared commitment to the necessity of ending conflicts for the well-being of people worldwide.
Following the meetings, both minister signed an agreement on economic cooperation and two MoUs on Cooperation with the Framework of Stipendium Hungary Cum Programme for the years 2024-2026 and Cooperation in the Field of Health for the years 2023-2025.
Dr. Momen also requested Hungary’s support for Rohingya refugees to safely return to their home country, Myanmar, and emphasised the importance of mounting pressure on Myanmar in this regard.
The meeting also discussed the upcoming visit of Hungary’s Prime Minister to Bangladesh, during which agreements on the proposed “Avoidance of Double Taxation”, “Investment Protection”, and “Water Cooperation” are expected to be signed.
Furthermore, both ministers discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade cooperation.
Dr. Momen highlighted the simplification of the visa application process for Bangladeshi citizens applying for Hungarian visas in Dhaka, which has been initiated to make the process more convenient.
Lastly, Dr. Momen extended an invitation to Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade to attend the inauguration ceremony of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.
On the other hand, during their bilateral meeting between Momen and Shirley underscored the importance of bilateral trade and investment growth between the two countries.
At the meeting, Ghana’s Foreign Minister highlighted the need to take decisive action to address climate change and its impact on vulnerable countries, as well as the importance of raising this issue at future climate conferences.
Dr. Momen reiterated Bangladesh’s prominent role in addressing climate change issues and its strong position in fulfilling climate-related commitments, emphasising the initiation of the “Loss and Damage Fund.”
In recent years, Foreign Minister Dr. Momen has been advocating for increased investment in Bangladesh, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, and he extended an invitation for pharmaceutical investments during the meeting.
Furthermore, Ghana’s Foreign Minister made a formal request for the establishment of a Bangladesh mission or an honorary consulate in Ghana. In response, Dr. Momen extended an invitation to Ghana’s Foreign Minister to visit Bangladesh.
