New Zealand is ranked top among 190 economies in the ease of doing business, and therefore Wellington likes to share its experience with Dhaka to improve business climate in Bangladesh to attract more foreign investment, said Joanna Mary Kempkers, Non-resident High Commissioner of New Zealand to Bangladesh while she paid farewell courtesy call on Foreign Minister Abdul Momen at his office today.
Foreign Minister mentioned that since 2009, Bangladesh’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanded 188 percent and thereby Bangladesh recorded the highest economic growth among a list of the 26 countries in the last 10 years according to the Spectator Index.
High Commissioner Joanna highly praised the socio economic development of Bangladesh in recent years with significant reduction of maternal and child mortality rates, poverty alleviation, and sustained high economic growth. She expressed keen interest of New Zealand to engage more with Bangladesh economically. Foreign Minister Momen requested High Commissioner to help reduce the trade gap between Bangladesh and New Zealand, which remains in favour of New Zealand. High Commissioner Joanna said New Zealand is expecting business delegation from Bangladesh to New Zealand in November this year where trade and investment opportunities between the two countries will be further explored.
Foreign Minister Momen requested High Commissioner for New Zealand’s support to create pressure on Myanmar so that Myanmar takes back their nationals who are currently taking shelter in Bangladesh. High Commissioner expressed high respect for the government of Bangladesh for generously accepting and protecting the displaced people and said New Zealand has provided 18 million dollar for humanitarian assistance to the displaced people and solution to their crisis lies in their early repatriation.