Kuwait agrees to invest Bangladesh's development sector, Sheikh Hasina had talk with Kuwaiti Speaker of parliament also

February 08,2010

Visiting Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had separate meetings with Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah and her Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Nasser Al- Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah here. Kuwait today showed keen interest in providing all-out support to different development projects in Bangladesh and also expansion of bilateral trade and business between the two brotherly Muslim countries. The Bangladesh premier spent a very busy day in the Kuwait city today, the second day of her three-day state visit in the oil rich Arab country. During the meetings, they discussed matters related to different bilateral interests and expansion of trade and business between Bangladesh and Kuwait for the mutual benefits of two peoples. Other important issues like Bangladeshi manpower export, river dredging and Kuwaiti investment in Bangladesh's development sector also came up prominently for discussion during these meetings. Referring to the Kuwaiti investment in Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina urged the Kuwaiti entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh taking advantage of her government's "lucrative" investment policy. In this context, she said her government would provide possible assistance for foreign investment in Bangladesh and laid emphasis on exchange of visits programmes of the businessmen of two countries to widen the way for further enhancing the trade relations between the two countries. About the manpower export, she said her government is providing training to the Bangladeshi workers on the language, customs, laws and technical know-how to enable them to work efficiently in different host countries.

Sheikh Hasina said Kuwait can import more Bangladeshi semi- skilled, skilled and technical people experienced in construction, power, water, civil aviation, petro-chemical, gas and hospital works as they are gentle and law abiding. Listing different pro-people programmes undertaken by her government, Sheikh Hasina said her government has provided subsidy in agriculture inputs including fertilizer and diesel to boost production. Referring to her government's mega capital dredging and maintenance programmes to restore navigability of the country's major rivers, she sought Kuwait supports to this end.

During the meetings, the Amir and the Prime Minister of Kuwait greeted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for her party's landslide victory and her election as the Prime Minister of Bangladesh through the last general election held in a free, fair and peaceful manner. They expressed the hope that the parliamentary democracy would be further consolidated on a firm footing in Bangladesh under the able and prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Referring to her role on the climate change issue, the Amir and the Prime Minister of Kuwait said Bangladesh has come in the forefront of world leadership to stand beside the Most Vulnerable Countries through the bold leadership of Sheikh Hasina.

In these meetings, the Kuwaiti leaders recalled with great respect the role of Father of the Nation and the greatest Bengali of all time Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and also his daughter Sheikh Hasina's vision towards building a poverty and hunger free prosperous Bangladesh. Earlier, on her arrival at the Bayan Palace, Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah received Sheikh Hasina as a smartly turned out contingent gave her the state guard of honour.

Besides, two tiny tots presented the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina bouquets when National Anthems of the two countries were played. Later, the Kuwait Prime Minister introduced her cabinet colleagues and chiefs of three services standing on a presentation line to Sheikh Hasina. The Prime Minister also introduced members of her entourage to her Kuwaiti counterpart.

Later, they held a meeting. Afterwards, Sheikh Hasina went to Seif Palace where she held a meeting with Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah.

As the programme is over, the Prime Minister paid a call on Speaker of Kuwait Parliament (Maslis-e-Ummah) Jassem Al Khorafi at the parliament building here this afternoon. During the meeting, they discussed matters of different bilateral issues including strengthening the parliamentary democracy.

Sheikh Rehana, younger sister of the Prime Minister, Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain, Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, State Minister for Forest and Environment Dr Hasan Mahmud, Ambassador At Large M Ziauddin, Bangladesh Ambassador in Kuwait Shahid Reza, Principal Secretary M A Karim, Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad and Deputy Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Mahbubul Haque Shakil were present on the occasions.