Bangladesh, Mexico pledge to strengthen economic relations

Bangladesh Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi and Mexico Secretary of the Economy, Raquel Buenrostro have pledged to take the economic relations to a new height to boost trade and business cooperation between the two countries.

Both sides reached the commitment during a bilateral meeting held in Mexico, a commerce ministry press release said here on Tuesday.

Citing the Bangladesh government's commitment to build a happy, prosperous and developed Smart Bangladesh by 2041 and its position to emerge as one of the fastest-growing economies in the Asia-Pacific region, Munshi proposed the formation of a Bilateral Trade Joint Group to further enhance cooperation between the two countries.

Claiming that Bangladesh is a perfect place for investment, the commerce minister said that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina-led government has established 100 economic zones, where many countries from across the world have started investment.

Munshi said Bangladesh is a market of at least 17 crore people and called upon Mexico to enter the prospective market to boost trade and commerce between the two countries.

At the same time, he also urged Mexico’s entrepreneurs and people of business communities to consider Bangladesh as their desired destination for meeting their local demands for textiles, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, fuel oil and IT goods.

Besides, Buenrostro underscored the need to resolve the unresolved double taxation and customs-related issues during the meeting.

He also stressed the need for formal contacts and exploration of business prospects by Bangladeshi businessmen with various states of his country and expressed his country's eagerness in the pharmaceutical sector of Bangladesh.

Buenrostro also expressed his commitment to lay the foundation for strong economic relations between the two countries.

Munshi called upon Buenrostro to visit Bangladesh.