A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Bangladesh and Eswatini on the establishment of a comprehensive consultation mechanism and a memorandum of agreement on contract farming and agricultural cooperation. Md Shahriar Alam, MP, the State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, and his counterpart, Thulisile Dladla, signed the MoU.
The Minister of Agriculture of Eswatini, Jabulani Mabuza, remarked after the Memorandum of Agreement was signed by saying that agriculture is one of the major potential areas of cooperation between Bangladesh and Eswatini, according to a press release.
He further said that a delegation from the Eswatini Agriculture Ministry might visit Bangladesh in order to share knowledge in the agricultural sector. The agricultural farms were also invited by him to establish contract farming in Eswatini. The Eswatini side also showed keen interest in sharing knowledge in the spheres of agricultural production, agro-commercialization, and extension areas with Bangladesh.
Md Shahriar Alam, MP, the State Minister of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, paid a two-day official visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini. Bilateral talks were being held by the minister with Thulisile Dladle, who is the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Eswatini in Mbabane. At the meeting, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to South Africa and the high officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also present.
The foreign minister of Eswatini welcomed the Bangladesh delegation at the outset of the meeting. The excellent bilateral relations that exist between Bangladesh and Eswatini were mentioned by Thulisile Dladla, who expressed their keen desire to enhance their present level of relations with Bangladesh. She mentioned that Eswatini looks forward to developing business and investment relations with Bangladesh. She further suggested the conclusion of the MoU between the Eswatinian Apex Chamber of Commerce and the FBCCI in the field of business cooperation. The regular bilateral consultations between foreign ministries and their importance were underlined by her.
The greetings of President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina were conveyed by the State Minister to King Mswati III. He remarked that the bilateral talks will help identify possible and potential areas of collaboration between Bangladesh and Eswatini. He further expressed his happiness over his visit to Eswatini and commented that both nations were exchanging support and cooperating at the UN and international organizations.
Shahriar Alam stressed the promotion of trade and investment relations between Bangladesh and Eswatini for the mutual benefit of the two countries. He underlined the necessity for the conclusion of agreements on visa waivers for diplomats and official passport holders and to avoid double taxation, intending to promote contacts, trade, and business.
In the context of the growing demand for food and essential commodities, he said that Bangladesh and Eswatini may establish collaborations in agro-production, food security, and agro-processing areas. Eswatinian students may opt to study in different private universities in Bangladesh while he was briefing on the opportunities for higher education in Bangladesh’s private universities. He also stated that there may be potential areas of cooperation between the government and private sectors in the IT and ICT sectors.
