President Mohammed Shahabuddin today received credentials from the envoy of Lao PDR, Bounmy Vanmani at Bangabhaban. Photo: Bangabhaban

DHAKA, Jan 29, 2025 (BSS) - President Mohammed Shahabuddin today sought more investment to Bangladesh and expansion of bilateral trade from friendly countries across the world. 

There are huge potentials of expansion of cooperation with the four countries like Lao PDR, Kenya, Zambia and Cyprus in different areas including trade and investment, climate change, energy and ICT , he said.

The President made the remarks after receiving credentials from the envoys of the four countries who are concurrently accredited to Bangladesh in separate ceremonies at Bangabhaban here. 

Apart from these, the President stressed on enhancing cooperation in other areas like education, skills development and skills mobility,  pharmaceuticals, jute and jute goods, ceramics, readymade garments (RMG), textiles, tea and seafood.

The President called for increasing import of Bangladeshi products including Ready Made Garments (RMG), Pharmaceuticals, ceramics, tea, sea foods and jute products to their respective countries. 

The envoys, who presented their credentials are:  Bounmy Vanmani of Lao PDR, Munyiri Peter Maina of Kenya, Percy P. Chanda of Zambia and Evagoras Vryonides of Cyprus. 

Proposing exchange of business delegations and investment forums to boost private sector engagement here, the President stressed on exploring joint-initiatives to address poverty, inequality, and sustainable development.

Welcoming the new envoys, he said Bangladesh always maintains friendly relations based on mutual respect and shared membership in international organizations like the United Nations (UN).  

President Shahabuddin said Bangladesh is keen to promote people-to-people contacts and youth exchange to foster better understanding and goodwill among the countries.

About Bangladeshi peacekeepers, the President said the peacekeepers of Bangladesh working in the various UN Peacekeeping Missions are playing a very significant role for ensuring world peace.

He shared strategies for combating climate change and promoting sustainable development and joint initiatives in renewable energy, conservation and green technology.

He also told the Zambia and Kenya envoys to conclude agreements for cooperation in the fields of agriculture, particularly contract farming.

The President urged the high commissioner of Cyprus to keep hosting more Bangladeshi students and skilled migrants by ensuring VISA processing more easier.
 
The envoys highly appreciated the socio-economic development of Bangladesh and sought the President's cooperation in fulfilling their respective assignments in Dhaka.
 
Secretaries concerned to the President's office and Foreign Ministry officials concerned were present at the meetings.
 
Earlier, on their arrivals at Bangabhaban, a horse-mounted contingent of the Presidential Guard Regiment (PGR) gave a guard of honor to the envoys as part of the ceremony.