DHAKA, Oct 22, 2023 (BSS) - Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's upcoming visit to Brussels will help take Bangladesh's ties with the European Union (EU) to a new height.

 "Bangladesh and the EU are expected to announce the elevation of their 50-year partnership to a new height," he said.

The foreign minister was speaking at a curtain raiser press briefing held at Foreign Ministry here ahead of the Prime Minister's visit to Belgium on the occasion of "Global Gateway Forum" to be held in capital Brussels from October 25-26. 

The European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to attend the Forum in their meeting at the G20 Summit in India recently.

During the visit, the Prime Minister will have a number of meetings with leaders of European countries on the sidelines of the Forum, the foreign minister said.

In the morning on October 25, the Prime Minister is expected to meet the Executive Vice President of the European Commission and the European Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis.

Later, the Bangladesh premier will hold a bilateral meeting with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. 

After this bilateral meeting, a loan support agreement of 350 million Euros on the renewable energy sector will be signed between the Bangladesh government's Economic Relations Department (ERD) and European Investment Bank.
 
 
Besides, a grant agreement of 45 million Euros for Bangladesh's renewable energy sector will be signed between the European Commission and European Investment Bank. And a 12 million Euros grant agreement between the Bangladesh government and European Commission also to be signed for Bangladesh's renewable energy sector.

During this visit, the Bangladesh government and European Commission will sign five different grant agreements of 70 million Euros on Bangladesh's Social sectors.

On the same day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the Global Gateway Forum's opening Plenary Session and deliver her speech.

In the afternoon, European Investment Bank President Dr. Werner Hoyer will hold a meeting with the premier. Besides, European Commission Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic and Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen will pay a courtesy call on the Bangladesh premier.

In the evening, the Prime Minister will attend the dinner hosted by Ursula von der Leyen in honor of the heads of state and government participating in the Global Gateway Forum.

On October 26, the Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with her Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo.

The Prime Minister will also hold a bilateral meeting with Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.

In the afternoon of the same day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to attend a reception with Bangladeshis expatriates living in Belgium. 

The Prime Minister will return home on October 27.