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Dhaka: Bangladesh and Kenya have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, information and communication technology (ICT), defence and other areas following the third round of Foreign Office Consultations held in Dhaka on October 14.
The consultations were held in a warm and constructive atmosphere, with both sides reviewing the overall state of bilateral relations and progress made since the second round of consultations in Nairobi in July 2024.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by Dr Nazrul Islam, Secretary (Bilateral) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while the Kenyan delegation was headed by Ambassador Josphat Maikara, Director General (Secretary), Political and Diplomatic Affairs, at Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.
The discussions covered a broad range of issues, including trade and investment, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, agriculture, ICT, defence, climate change, the blue economy, culture, sports and people-to-people contacts.
Both sides agreed to expedite pending agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in areas of mutual interest, including the avoidance of double taxation, the promotion and protection of investment, blue economy cooperation and contract farming.
During the consultations, Bangladesh highlighted its strengths in pharmaceuticals, ready-made garments, light engineering, jute and jute products, and agriculture, underscoring opportunities to expand exports and deepen economic engagement with Kenya.
The Kenyan side expressed interest in procuring more quality and affordable medicines from Bangladesh and encouraged Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies to increase investment in Kenya.
Kenya also offered to export high-quality coffee, beans, cotton and processed meat to Bangladesh, opening up prospects for greater trade diversification between the two countries.
The Kenyan delegation informed the Bangladesh side that Kenya plans to establish a resident diplomatic mission in Dhaka soon. The move is expected to provide a further channel for strengthening diplomatic engagement and facilitating bilateral cooperation.
The two sides also agreed to deepen cooperation in multilateral forums, including the United Nations, the Commonwealth and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). They further emphasised the importance of encouraging high-level visits to strengthen political ties and advance shared interests.
The fourth round of Foreign Office Consultations is expected to take place in Nairobi in October 2028.
