The Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh and the Agência para o Investimento e ComércioExternoof Portugal (Trade and Investment agency of Portugal-AICEP)virtually signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Trade and Investment cooperation (16 March 2023). At a simple ceremony held simultaneously at the two institutions, the Vice Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh, Mr. A.H.M. Ahsan in Dhaka, and Chairman & CEO of AICEP, Mr. Luís Castro Henriques in Lisbon signed the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of their respective institutions. On the Lisbon side of the ceremony, Bangladesh Ambassador to Portugal Mr. Tarik Ahsan;Mr. Manuel António Gaeiras, Director of External Relations & Foreign Markets; Ms. Maria José Alvarenga, Deputy Director of External Relations & Foreign Markets; Mr. Daniel Pontes, Market Manager of External Relations & Foreign Markets; and First Secretary of Bangladesh Embassy Mr. Alamgeer Hossain were also present. On the Dhaka side, Director General of Export Promotion Bureau Mr. Mahbubur Rahman;Director General of the West Europe & EU wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Mr. Kazi Russel Pervez, Ms. Kumkum Sultana, Director (Policy & Planning); Mr. Mohammed Shahjalal, Director (Commodities); Mr. Mahmudul Hasan, Director (Textile); Mr. Abu Mukhles Alamgir Hossain, Director (Fair and Display) andattended the virtual signing ceremony.
This cooperation MoU will focus on strengthening economic relations between the two countries by promoting trade and industry as well as by bringing together business leaders from all sectors of economy of the two friendly countries. Through this cooperation MoU, both AICEP and EPB aims to collaborate on developing direct business relations between their respective business communities of the two nations. This cooperation MoU will also promote exchange of economic, trade and business information and entrepreneurial experiencebetween the two organization and undertake actions to help each other in the development of fairs and symposiums, conferences and other events aimed at expanding the bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Through this cooperation MoU, it is expected that both organizations will facilitate sending business missions between the two countries in order to examining the prospects for cooperation in the areas of industry and trade.
The Chairman & CEO of AICEP Mr. Luís Castro Henriques in his welcome remarks, expressed his pleasure at the successful completion of the signing ceremony. He hoped that both the organizations of the two friendly countrieswould work closely for furtheringbusiness cooperation. He mentioned that the BangladeshMentioning this as only a beginning, he said that his institution is ready to explore areas of cooperation under this framework. He also remarked that there is huge untapped business potential between the two countries on which the two countries can work.
The Vice Chairman of Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh Mr. A.H.M. Ahsan expressed his satisfaction at signing of this cooperation agreement with the apex organization of Portugal for trade and investment cooperation. He remarked that this is first time in history of Bangladesh-Portugal bilateral relations a cooperation MoU regarding business cooperation has been signed. He hoped that, by signing this Memorandum of Understanding, business communities from both countries will get the opportunity to work closely which certainly in turn boost the bilateral trade and investment of the two nations. Both the institutions will benefit from proper implementation of the protocol, he opined.
Ambassador Tarik Ahsan, in his remarks, congratulated both Export Promotion Bureau of Bangladesh and Agência para o Investimento e ComércioExterno de Portugal on this momentous decision to tie up for a partnership. Referring to the historic linkage between the countries, Ambassador remarked that people of Bangladesh and Portugal are connected since early 16 centuries. He opined that both counties should leverage this area to advance the bilateral relationship to a new height. He expressed his happiness for playing a part in facilitating conclusion of this Memorandum of Understanding and assured that the Embassy would be ready to extend cooperation in future also in the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding.