Bangladesh, Lithuania explore partnership, cooperation

Photo: Courtesy

State Minister for foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam stressed on strengthening bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Lithuania on Tuesday.

Emphasising on enhanced trade and economic relation, the state minister requested Lithuania to import readymade garments, textiles, pharmaceutical products, bio-degradable jute and jute products, leather and leather products, agro-products, furniture, plastic goods, and ships from Bangladesh, said a press release.

She further highlighted the investment opportunities in Bangladesh in sectors like apparel, leather, light engineering, agro-processing, petroleum, renewable energy, IT sector, and waste management, and invited Lithuania to invest in Bangladesh.

The Non-Resident Ambassador of Lithaunia to Bangladesh Diana Mickeviciene called on Shama on Tuesday at the ministry and during the meeting, they also discussed about cooperation and partnership in various sectors and issues, including education, demographic dividends, manpower and employment opportunities, human mobility and migration, visa facilitation, women empowerment, sports and culture, and deepening engagement in international organisations.

Recalling the historical relation that Bangladesh and Lithuania established diplomatic ties in 1992, the state minister emphasised to widen mutually beneficial bilateral relations in all possible sectors. They focused on expanding cooperation in information technology, financial technology (FinTech), e-governance, cyber security, e-registration, e-transportation, digitisation of transport system, AI, high tech medical device systems, and so forth and the Lithuanian ambassador highlighted their potential and expressed their keen interest in expanding cooperation, collaboration, and partnership with Bangladesh in these areas.

To deepen engagements, they also discussed and agreed the importance of matters related to high level visits, exchange of business delegation, collaboration among business chambers, knowledge and technology sharing, youth and student exchanges, exchange of cultural troupes, cooperation in tourism and wider people-to-people contacts between the two countries.

The Lithuanian ambassador mentioning Lithuania as the next Chair of the EU during January-July 2027, highlighted that Lithuania might be a gateway to wider EU region for certain Bangladeshi products requiring registration including pharmaceutical products and certain services from Bangladesh to EU markets.

The ambassador further emphasised the role of EU-BD Business Forum, compliance to existing frameworks for business and for legal and regular migration, and availing regional connectivity centering Lithuania in Baltic region and beyond to explore untapped potential for enhancing deeper relation.