Handout                                                                                                                     Number :2007

German State Minister calls on Foreign Minister

Dhaka, 20 July:

            German State Minister of Federal Foreign Office Annen Niels MP met the Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali MP at the State Guest House Padma yesterday. Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Imtiaz Ahmed, German Ambassador in Dhaka Thomas Prinz were present among others during the meeting.

            They discussed a wide range of bilateral, regional and international issues ranging from bilateral trade and investment, Rohingya crisis to politics and refugee situation in Europe. At the beginning, the German State Minister praised Bangladesh for her consistent economic growth and enviable socioeconomic development. The two Ministers expressed satisfaction over the steady growth of bilateral trade and investment. While mentioning that Germany became the biggest  trading partners of Bangladesh in the Europe, the Foreign Minister emphasized on the diversification of export items of Bangladesh to Germany. It may be mentioned that more than 90% of the exports of Bangladesh to Germany is ready made garments. German State Minister Annen Niels informed that German giant SIEMENS is going to be the single largest investors in Bangladesh financing 7 billion euro to generate 8,000mwatt electricity in Payra. He also thanked Bangladesh government for giving the German Company Veridos, the opportunity to implement e-passport project and expressed happiness at the upcoming signing of the MOU between Ministry of Home Affairs and Veridos on implementation of e-passport project. Minister Annen also requested better facilities for German Companies who are working in Bangladesh. Foreign Minister assured of all kinds of supports and facilities for the German investors and asked the German State Minister to encourage their investors to come to Bangladesh. German Minister also conveyed satisfaction of German government on the ongoing cooperation between the two countries on migration management.

            German Minister Annen lauded humanistic approach of Prime Minister Shaikh Hasina and her government and local people of Cox’s Bazaar district in managing the Rohingya crisis. He also appreciated the efforts taken by Bangladesh government for the safety of the Rohingya people in the Monsoon. He assured the continuous support of the German Government for the management of the Rohingyas in the camps and political supports to achieve solution to the crisis and safe, sustainable return of the displaced Rohingyas to their own homeland.   Foreign Minister requested German State Minister to continue to mount pressure on Myanmar to ensure safe and sustainable return of the Rohingyas to their home.

            Foreign Minister A H Mahmood Ali also reminded the German State Minister Annen on the pending invitation of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to the German Chancellor Angela Merkel to visit Bangladesh adding that Bangladesh is eagerly waiting to receive Merkel. Mr. Annen assured that the renewal of invitation would be conveyed to the Chancellor.

            It may be mentioned that Annen Niels was the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee of German Parliament of South Asia in the last parliament and Member of the same standing committee in the present parliament. This is the first ever visit of Annen Niels to Bangladesh.

#

Tohidul/Mahmud/Mosharaf/Abbas/2018/1727 Hours