Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)-Bangladesh and South Africa on Wednesday held the third round of bilateral consultations on a wide range of interest including cooperation in economic relations and trade.
The consultations was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, said a press statement of the ministry.
The consultations covered a lot of issues which included: ooperation between police services, mutual legal assistances and extradition treaties, migration issues, cooperation in transport – air services, cooperation in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, cooperation in education, cooperation in rural development and land reform.
During the discussion, Bangladesh side handed over a list of 206 potential exportable products of Bangladesh for duty free or quota free access in lower rate in the South African market, the statement added.
Both of the sides agreed on early finalisation of some draft agreements for mutual interest. Such as: protocol for regular diplomatic consultations between the two countries, agreement on avoidance of double taxation, concluding air services agreement establishing direct air connection between Dhaka and Johannesburg and agreement on visa waiver for diplomatic & official passport holders.
It may be mentioned that first round of talks was held in Dhaka in 2012 while the second round of talks was held in Pretoria in 2013.
The Additional Foreign Secretary Ambassador Mizanur Rahman led the Bangladesh delegation, while his counterpart Dr A Sooklal , deputy director general of Asia and Middle East of Department of International Relation and Cooperation, led the South African delegation.
Both the sides were comprised of senior officials from different ministry and departments of both the governments.
BBN/SK/ANS