2024-07-18 01:29:51
Kenya has promised to open a resident mission in Dhaka before the end of the current financial year. Besides, Bangladesh and Kenya have agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding to increase defense cooperation.
The two sides agreed on these issues at the Foreign Secretary level meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday (July 16) local time.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen led the meeting held in Nairobi on behalf of Dhaka. On the other hand, the Chief Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country on behalf of Kenya. A. Karir Singh was O. A significant point of discussion between the two sides was Kenya opening a resident mission in Dhaka before the end of this fiscal year. Both sides agreed to expedite the process.
Apart from this, both sides have promised to finalize the agreement on Visa Waiver Agreement for Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders by concluding the ongoing negotiations. Both sides agreed to continue cooperation under the South-South framework to secure financing for joint projects linked to the UN SDGs within the UN Agenda 2030.
In the meeting, Bangladesh formally proposed an agreement on investment promotion and protection on economic cooperation. Kenya welcomed the proposal and agreed to enter into the agreement. Both sides agreed to form a Joint Technical Committee on Trade and Investment.
Bangladesh has expressed its interest in contract farming in Kenya in terms of agricultural cooperation. Apart from this, export of readymade garments and leather was another key point of discussion. Bangladesh invited a multi-sectoral team from Kenya to visit the sector.
Both sides agreed to deepen defense cooperation through exchanges and coordination between defense colleges of the two countries, including exchange of students and lecturers, invitation to conferences, joint dialogues. To that end, both sides have agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation soon.
In addition, Kenya proposed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Blue-Economy and Fisheries Cooperation. The country has expressed interest in learning skills from Bangladesh in these two sectors.
High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Kenya Tarek Muhammad and Director General of Africa Division of Ministry of Foreign Affairs AFM Zahid ul Islam were present in the meeting.