Dhaka will seek duty free access of Bangladesh products to the Turkish market and pursue increased exports of pharmaceuticals, ready-made garment, ceramic and leather goods.
April 12, 2006 (Press Release) --
Dhaka will seek duty free access of Bangladesh products to the Turkish market and pursue increased exports of pharmaceuticals, ready-made garment, ceramic and leather goods during Bangladesh Prime Minister (PM) Begum Khaleda Zia's three-day visit beginning today.
She arrived in Ankara at the invitation of Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is the first ever Bangladeshi PM's state visit to Turkey. Khaleda was accorded red-carpet warm welcome in Ankara.
Prior to this visit, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin Ahmed said, "he relationship with Turkey is very deep-rooted and traditional. The visit of Khaleda is highly significant as the two countries are set to realise their potentials for increased bilateral trade".
Briefing diplomatic correspondents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said the Begum Zia will lay emphasis on the possibility of increasing Bangladeshi exports to Turkey.
She will also request her Turkish counterpart for duty free access of Bangladeshi products and propose reconvening the Joint Economic Commission which has not had a meeting since 1992.
Hemayetuddin said the volume of trade between the two countries was $114 million in 2004-05, "which we believe is much below its potential. But trading with Turkey is in favor of Bangladesh."
Bangladeshi exports to Turkey were worth $76.24 million while imports were $37 million in 2004-05 fiscal year and exports since 2002 showed the tendency to increase, he said.
The foreign secretary said Dhaka would also like to benefit from the Turkish business links with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. Turkey can be a conduit for Bangladeshi products to those countries.
Since Turkey is negotiating for membership in the European Union (EU), a good trade relation with Turkey may have long-term benefits.
The foreign secretary said the PM would have two luncheon meetings with leading businessmen in Ankara and Istanbul where she will invite Turkish investors to invest in Bangladesh and take advantage of the incentives provided by the government.
Turning to Bangladesh-Turkey relation, he said both the countries have a close and friendly relationship and they are members of Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), Developing-8 (D-8) and the UN. Both the countries have similar positions on most international issues. "It is a country with which we seek close engagement and meaningful cooperations," Hemayetuddin added.
Turkey recognised Bangladesh in February 1974 while late President Ziaur Rahman visited Turkey in 1976 and 1978 and laid the foundation of a friendly relationship, the foreign secretary said.
Turkish presidents Kenan Evren visited Bangladesh in 1982, Turgut Ozal in 1986 and 1989, Suleyman Demirel in 1997 and 1999. While President Shahabuddin Ahmed visited Turkey in 1999.
Besides, a good number of ministerial level visits took place in recent years and the Turkish parliament has established the Friendship Group of Parliamentarians for Bangladesh in 2003.
She arrived in Ankara at the invitation of Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan. It is the first ever Bangladeshi PM's state visit to Turkey. Khaleda was accorded red-carpet warm welcome in Ankara.
Prior to this visit, Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Hemayetuddin Ahmed said, "he relationship with Turkey is very deep-rooted and traditional. The visit of Khaleda is highly significant as the two countries are set to realise their potentials for increased bilateral trade".
Briefing diplomatic correspondents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he said the Begum Zia will lay emphasis on the possibility of increasing Bangladeshi exports to Turkey.
She will also request her Turkish counterpart for duty free access of Bangladeshi products and propose reconvening the Joint Economic Commission which has not had a meeting since 1992.
Hemayetuddin said the volume of trade between the two countries was $114 million in 2004-05, "which we believe is much below its potential. But trading with Turkey is in favor of Bangladesh."
Bangladeshi exports to Turkey were worth $76.24 million while imports were $37 million in 2004-05 fiscal year and exports since 2002 showed the tendency to increase, he said.
The foreign secretary said Dhaka would also like to benefit from the Turkish business links with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries. Turkey can be a conduit for Bangladeshi products to those countries.
Since Turkey is negotiating for membership in the European Union (EU), a good trade relation with Turkey may have long-term benefits.
The foreign secretary said the PM would have two luncheon meetings with leading businessmen in Ankara and Istanbul where she will invite Turkish investors to invest in Bangladesh and take advantage of the incentives provided by the government.
Turning to Bangladesh-Turkey relation, he said both the countries have a close and friendly relationship and they are members of Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), Developing-8 (D-8) and the UN. Both the countries have similar positions on most international issues. "It is a country with which we seek close engagement and meaningful cooperations," Hemayetuddin added.
Turkey recognised Bangladesh in February 1974 while late President Ziaur Rahman visited Turkey in 1976 and 1978 and laid the foundation of a friendly relationship, the foreign secretary said.
Turkish presidents Kenan Evren visited Bangladesh in 1982, Turgut Ozal in 1986 and 1989, Suleyman Demirel in 1997 and 1999. While President Shahabuddin Ahmed visited Turkey in 1999.
Besides, a good number of ministerial level visits took place in recent years and the Turkish parliament has established the Friendship Group of Parliamentarians for Bangladesh in 2003.
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