A High level South Sudanese delegation has calls on with Foreign Minister
Dhaka, 7 February 2022:
High level South Sudanese delegation comprising Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister of Defense and high officials of trade and commerce Ministry call upon Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. A K Abdul Momen.
A high-level delegation of the government of South Sudan led by Deng Dau Deng, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister of Defense, Secretary, Trade and Industry and other high officials called upon the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. A K Abdul Momen at the State House, Padma. During the call on, both sides discussed on various matters of existing bilateral relations between the governments of Bangladesh and South Sudan.
At the outset of the meeting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Momen welcomed the South Sudanese delegation to Dhaka. The visit marks the first ever such high-level bilateral visit from South Sudan to Bangladesh which comprises several high-level dignitaries.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Momen stated that the visit is taking place at a very special moment of Bangladesh when the country is celebrating the twin program of Birth Centenary of the father of the nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of our independence.
The South Sudanese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed profuse thanks for the warm reception extended to the South Sudanese delegation by the Bangladesh government.
Foreign Minister Dr. Momen suggested that both countries may establish co-operation in sectors like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, IT and ICT sectors. He also suggested establishing contract farming by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in South Sudan including agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture which could be mutually beneficial. He informed that South Sudan can get ships and barges fabricated in Bangladesh through joint collaboration.
The South Sudanese side expressed appreciation for Bangladesh’s engagement in South Sudan in infrastructure building and rehabilitation areas apart from participation in peacekeeping in South Sudan. The South Sudanese delegation particularly underlined the scope of co-operation between two of the countries in health, education, IT and ICT, social development, agriculture, education, climate change and UN peace-keeping areas. It may be mentioned that Bangladesh contingents are deployed in the UN peacekeeping Mission in UNMISS in South Sudan.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of South Sudan mentioned that Bangladesh peacekeepers deployed in peace-keeping missions in South Sudan are playing a valuable role in maintaining peace and security in the area. Foreign Minister Dr. Momen proposed that the South Sudanese government may send military officers at the peace training institute of Bangladesh and also at our military academies.
Both sides identified that co-operation may be established in sectors like dredging and river management.
The South Sudanese delegation is due to meet with the Minister of Agriculture, Secretary, Ministrer of Commerce and Secretary, Minister of Industries. They are also due to visit agricultural projects, nursing institutions and few manufacturing industries in Bangladesh.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Momen proposed that both sides may conclude agreements in the areas like agriculture including contract farming, visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passport, promotion and protection of investment, cooperation in trade and bilateral consultations between the Foreign Ministries of both countries. It was agreed that draft agreements from Bangladesh side would be forwarded to the South Sudanese side for their consideration.
The visiting delegation also called upon State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shahriar Alam at his office in the afternoon. During the call, both sides discussed bilateral issues of mutual interest and focused on identifying the potential avenues of co-operation. During the meeting, the South Sudanese head of delegation mentioned that the visiting delegation would like to visit several manufacturing industries in Bangladesh. He under-scored the importance of mutual cooperation in bilateral platforms as well as cooperation in the UN.
A dinner was hosted in honour of the visiting South Sudanese delegation at State Guest House Padma, where Ministers of the government, Government high officials, political personalities and media personalities were present.
The delegation arrived in the morning today in Dhaka.
