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Indonesian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Anis Matta held a bilateral meeting with Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir at the latter’s office on Tuesday, with both sides expressing their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations.
The two sides discussed the full range of bilateral relations, including trade and investment, energy cooperation, health, disaster management, education and training, and consular cooperation. They also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest at regional and multilateral forums.
Welcoming Anis Matta to Bangladesh, State Minister Humaiun Kobir put forward five specific proposals to deepen the existing relations between the two countries.
The proposals included restoring visa-on-arrival facilities for Bangladeshi nationals travelling to Indonesia, importing more pharmaceutical products from Bangladesh to meet growing demand in Indonesia, and procuring jute bags from Bangladesh through a government-to-government arrangement for eco-friendly packaging of coffee beans and other Indonesian products.
He also proposed opening the Indonesian market to Bangladeshi potatoes and establishing institutional cooperation in disaster management. In this regard, he handed over a draft Memorandum of Understanding on Disaster Management to the Indonesian vice minister.
Highlighting Indonesia’s position as the world’s largest halal food consumer market, Humaiun Kobir stressed the need to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the halal sector.
He also called for elevating Bangladesh-Indonesia relations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
Thanking the state minister for inviting him to Bangladesh and for the warm hospitality extended to him, Anis Matta welcomed Bangladesh’s proposals and expressed Indonesia’s interest in upgrading bilateral relations to a long-term strategic partnership.
To achieve that goal, he proposed undertaking priority joint projects over the next five to 10 years.
He also encouraged both countries to explore the possibility of establishing direct flights between Dhaka and Jakarta to further strengthen people-to-people connectivity.
Humaiun Kobir appreciated the Indonesian vice minister’s forward-looking vision for deepening relations between the two countries.
The Bangladesh state minister thanked the Indonesian government for its continued support for Bangladesh at regional and international forums on issues of mutual interest.
He sought Indonesia’s continued support for Bangladesh’s application for Sectoral Dialogue Partnership of ASEAN and membership of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
He also sought Indonesia’s support for the safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of forcibly displaced Rohingyas from Bangladesh to their homeland in Myanmar.
Anis Matta assured Bangladesh of Indonesia’s continued support on these issues.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including officials of the South East Asia Wing, as well as the ambassadors of Bangladesh and Indonesia based in their respective capitals, attended the meeting.
Anis Matta is on an official visit to Bangladesh from October 5 to 9 at the invitation of State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir.