Bangladesh Ambassador to Portugal, Tarik Ahsan presented his credentials to the President of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi in Maputo on Monday, 30 January 2023 as the non-resident Bangladesh High Commissioner to that country with residence in Lisbon.
On the morning of Monday, High Commissioner Tarik Ahsan was escorted by officials of State Protocol and Aide de Camp of Mozambique in a motorcade from his hotel to the presidential Palace. On his arrival at the Palace, the High Commissioner received a gun salute from the Presidential Guards, while national anthems of Bangladesh and Mozambique were played by a military band.
The High Commissioner then ceremonially presented his letter of credence to the President of Mozambique. Thereafter, the High Commissioner had an audience with President Nyusi, where the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique Ms. Verónica NatanielMacamoDlhovo was in attendance. The President warmly welcomed the High Commissioner to Mozambique. The High Commissioner conveyed the greetings of Bangladesh President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the Mozambique President. Through the High Commissioner, the President also extended his regards to the President and Prime Minister of Bangladesh. The President recalled with happiness the stopovers he made in Dhaka in November 2021 on his way to/from Busan and appreciated the courtesies he received and the brief meeting he had with Bangladesh Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives. The President thanked Bangladesh for support of Mozambique’s election to the UN Security Council for the term 2023-24. He also fondly recollected his association with Bangladeshi peacekeepers who were part of UN Operations in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) in the early 90s.
The Mozambique President emphasized the need for strengthening concrete cooperation between Bangladesh and Mozambique, particularly in trade. He stated his desire to pay a bilateral visit to Bangladesh when the High Commissioner reminded him of an invitation from Bangladesh’s President. Appreciating Bangladesh’s success in economic and social development under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Mozambique President expressed keen interest to see the exchange of best practices between the two countries in areas of climate action, disaster management, agriculture, and so on. The Mozambique President also responded positively to the idea broached by the High Commissioner about possible contract farming by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs and farmers in Mozambique.
Earlier on Saturday, 28 January 2023, High Commissioner Tarik Ahsan had a meeting with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Mr. Manuel José Gonçalves, handing over of copies of the credential papers to him. The possible establishment of a mechanism for periodic consultations between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries and the appointment of an Honorary Consul of Mozambique in Dhaka were discussed. The High Commissioner suggested that Mozambique consider importing quality products at affordable prices from Bangladesh, such as RMG, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, electronics, ICT, bicycles/motorcycles, and ocean-going ships. He congratulated the Deputy Minister on Mozambique’s membership of the UN Security Council for the term 2023-24 and requested for support of Mozambique, at the UN and other platforms, in encouraging Myanmar to expeditiously take back the forcibly displaced Rohingyas from the temporary shelters in Bangladesh. The High Commissioner also sought Mozambique’s support for Bangladesh’s candidature for membership in the Council of International Maritime Organization for the term 2024-25.