Travel  |  Business World  |  Women's World  |  Entertainment

Change Your Life!

Sheikh Hasina discusses with Italian President about trade

News
Sports
Chat
Travel
Dhaka Today
Yellow Pages
Higher Education
Ask a Doctor
Weather
Currency Rate
Horoscope
E-Cards
B2K Poll
Comment on the Site
B2K Club

December 5, 2000 

Rome--(UNB)- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought support of the good offices of Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi for quota-and tariff-free access of Bangladeshi goods to European market.

The PM made the request when she called on the President at Quirieela Palace yesterday (Monday), the third day of her visit to Italy on the first leg of her three-nation Euro tour.

“We hope to get continued support from Italy for free access of our products and continuation of GSP facilities,” she told the President.

Sheikh Hasina said she had talks with the leaders of European Union and response was very encouraging with regard to the preferential trading facilities in the EU countries.

Bangladesh, she said, is going for massive agro-based industrialisation and if it gets free market access, the countrymen would be greatly benefited. Through the setting up of agro-based and agro-processing industry there will be massive employment generation, including jobs for women.

The Italian President said there is existing a deep and important economic and bilateral relationship between the two countries and assured that the government of Italy would continues discussion for further deepening the Dhaka-Rome ties.

Carlo Azeglio Ciampi mentioned the visit of former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi to Bangladesh and hoped that the excellent relations would be strengthened further.

Praising the effort of Sheikh Hasina for the development of neglected people he said, “I have heard that you have taken lot of programmes in social sector, we are very much appreciative of your work in removing poverty.”

He mentioned that a new agreement between Bangladesh and Italy is going to be signed on science and technology, which he will usher in a new horizon in the bilateral relationship.

The Prime Minister said this was not her first visit to Rome, earlier she had arrived here in 1969 as tourist and again in 1993 while attended FAO summit in 1996. This is the fourth time that she is visiting this country, home to a great civilization.

Sheikh Hasina observed there is a good similitude between the peoples of these two friendly countries, there is strong affinity and friendship between them.

Recalling the brutal killing of father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975, she said after that tragic incident democracy and voting right of the people of Bangladesh were snatched and politics of coup and counter-coup started.

She said through a long struggle she had restored democracy and people’s franchise and now started the work for economic emancipation of the people.

“Now our main priority is poverty alleviation, and removing illiteracy from the country,” she told the President mentioning the steps taken for the welfare of common man.

She said despite repeated floods, cyclonic storms and other natural disaster, her government was maintaining the GDP growth at 5.5 percent and attained self-sufficiency in food.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Dr SA Samad, Foreign Secretary CM Shafi Sami, Press Secretary to the Prime Minister Jawadul Karim and Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy M Ziauddin were present in the meeting.

Send This News to a Friend