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President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has sought Australia’s support to further strengthen energy security, skilled migration, technical education, investment and economic partnership between the two countries.
He made the remarks when Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban on Thursday (October 1), according to the President’s Press Wing.
During the meeting, Ryle conveyed greetings to President Alamgir on behalf of Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC and handed him a formal message of congratulations. The president thanked the governor-general for her greetings.
Alamgir sought Australia’s cooperation in diversifying Bangladesh’s energy sources and proposed creating opportunities to import liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Australia.
He also called for increased Australian investment in infrastructure, renewable energy, energy exploration, agro-processing, medical technology, logistics and manufacturing.
The president expressed hope that the senior officials’ meeting and the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) meeting scheduled to be held in Canberra in November would play an important role in expanding bilateral trade and investment.
He welcomed opportunities for skilled migration to Australia for Bangladeshi professionals, particularly in information technology, engineering and other technical fields.
He also sought continued Australian support for scholarship and academic exchange programmes, as well as cooperation in establishing a University of Canberra campus in Dhaka.
The president proposed expanding cooperation between Australian Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions and Bangladesh’s Technical Training Centres (TTCs) to develop job-oriented skills for the country’s growing workforce. He particularly emphasised training in areas such as caregiving and other technical fields.
Referring to the Rohingya crisis, Alamgir expressed gratitude for Australia’s continued humanitarian assistance and called for its continued support for a sustainable solution to the crisis.
He expressed hope that the Bangladesh-Australia partnership would increasingly focus on practical economic opportunities, skills development, investment and greater people-to-people connectivity and mobility.
The Australian high commissioner, meanwhile, emphasised the importance of foreign exchange reserves in banks, tax reforms, judicial independence and a positive regulatory environment for Australian investment in Bangladesh.
She also praised banking reforms in Bangladesh and expressed Australia’s interest in further strengthening existing cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The president’s Military Secretary, Secretary, Press Secretary and an additional secretary of the Foreign Ministry were present at the meeting. Australian Deputy High Commissioner Clinton Pobke also attended.
