His Excellency Mr. João Ribeiro de Almeida, new Ambassador-designate of Portugal to Bangladesh (resident in New Delhi) paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Dr. Hasan Mahmud, MP this afternoon at the latter’s office.
The Foreign Minister termed the relations between the two countries as historic dates back to the sixteenth century and mentioned the presence of Portuguese descendants in Chattogram and Patharghata of Bangladesh. He proposed to celebrate the 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Portugal in a befitting way later this year. The Portuguese Ambassador-designate thanked the Hon’ble Foreign Minister for his warm welcome and expressed Portugal’s interest in further strengthen bilateral relations, particularly economic relations between the two friendly countries. He expressed his interest in visiting the Portuguese descendants living in Bangladesh and echoed to celebrate the 50 years of Bangladesh-Portugal diplomatic relations befittingly both in Dhaka and Lisbon. He also invited Bangladesh to consider associating with the Community of Portuguese Language Speaking Countries.
The Foreign Minister sought Portugal’s support in securing the EU’s GSP+ trade preferences for Bangladesh beyond 2029. The Portuguese Ambassador-designate assured his government’s support in this regard and proposed direct maritime connectivity between Chattogram Port of Bangladesh and Leixoes Port of Portugal for further promoting bilateral trade between the two countries.
The Foreign Minister conveyed that the Bangladesh government plans to generate 40% of its electricity from renewable sources and encouraged Portuguese investment and expertise in the renewable energy sector, particularly the generation of electricity from solar, wind, and wave. The Portuguese ambassador-designate informed that a major share of their electricity comes from renewable sources, mainly solar and wind, and it would reach the target of 80% by 2030. He expressed Portugal’s interest in exploring collaboration with Bangladesh in the renewable energy sector.
The Portuguese Ambassador-designate highly praised the Bangladesh community living in Portugal and acknowledged their active contribution to their economy. The Foreign Minister encouraged the opening of a full-fledged diplomatic mission of Portugal in Dhaka to further promote businesses and people-to-people connectivity. He further suggested strengthening of ties by concluding an instrument on migration and mobility between the two governments. The Portuguese Ambassador-designate agreed to explore opening a consulate in Dhaka at an early date and start discussion on a bilateral migration and mobility instrument to facilitate skilled migration from Bangladesh to Portugal.
Both sides also exchanged views on collaboration in multilateral platforms, climate issues, and elections in the UN and other multilateral forums.