MINSK, 13 December (BelTA) - The fourth round of consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and Bangladesh took place in Dhaka on 12 December, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Embassy in India.
A Belarusian delegation was headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrei Dapkiunas. A Bangladesh delegation was led by Secretary for Bilateral and Consular Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kamrul Ahsan. On behalf of Bangladesh the consultations were also attended by officials of the Ministry of Industries, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives, and the administrations of special economic zones.
The parties discussed a wide range of issues on the bilateral and multilateral agenda, conducted a review of the state of bilateral relations and cooperation within international organizations. Particular attention was paid to the development of interstate contacts at high and highest levels. The consultations also discussed the prospects for cooperation in agriculture, including the exchange of experience in agricultural plant breeding, information and telecommunications, and higher education.
The Bangladeshi side drew attention to the importance of sustainable supplies of Belarusian potash fertilizers to the country and suggested exploring the possibility of increasing their volumes.
The deputy ministers discussed the possibility of involving Belarusian producers in mutually beneficial cooperation with Bangladesh in the sectors of the economy that are critical to the country, such as the mechanization of agriculture, adjusting agricultural machinery to small farms and local climate, modernizing sugar production capacities and helping to expand the export potential of potato farming in Bangladesh.
The parties suggested the joint commission on cooperation in agriculture should start practical work in the near future and that the commission on cooperation in science shroud convene for a meeting as soon as possible.
An agreement was reached to send a Belarusian inter-industry delegation to Bangladesh for substantive assessment of mutually beneficial and feasible projects in the most promising areas.
During the talks with Minister of Local Government, Agricultural Development and Cooperatives Tajul Islam the parties reviewed a set of issues related to the implementation of a large-scale contract to supply Belarusian road, construction and automotive equipment to Bangladesh.
The first phase of the project with a total funding of $50 million has been successfully implemented. The second phase with the budget of $17 million is in the works. Issues related the second phase of the project involving Amkodor and MAZ were also examined.
The Belarusian delegation met with Ajit Kumar Paul, the head of Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation (BSFIC), to discuss the possibilities of cooperation between the corporation and a number of large Belarusian manufacturers (MTZ, MAZ, Amkodor, Promagroleasing), for example, the supply of tractors and mounted equipment for harvesting sugar crops.
