Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are going to boost bilateral economic cooperation particularly in shipping, agro-products, construction, cement, ICT and pharmaceutical sectors, officials said.
The two countries sign an ‘Agreed Minutes’ on Thursday to this effect at the end of the two-day meeting of the Joint Economic Commission, which began in the capital city on Wednesday.
Finance minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith will detail the outcome of the meeting at a press briefing at the NEC Bhaban in the capital at 3:30pm on Thursday, they added.
Officials of the Economic Relation Division, the host of the JEC meeting, said that both the countries showed interest to strengthen ties in shipping sector.
Bangladesh requested Sri Lanka to increase employment opportunities for its crews and officers on Sri Lanka flagged vessels. Besides, it also invited the ship owners of this SAARC member states for dry docking at Bangladeshi dockyards.
The representative of the countries also talked about the introduction of feeder vessels service between Mongla and Colombo ports.
On the other hand, exchange of information and experiences of information technology on the basis of common interests like establishing an effective nationwide research and education network, developing and implementing distance education, digital libraries, telemedicine, virtualization, computer sciences and engineering were also discussed.
Bangladesh insisted Sri Lanka to put special emphasis on facilitating registration of pharmaceutical products for exports to the island country.
Cooperation in tea sector through establishing joint venture for promoting export of processed tea from Bangladesh was also addressed at the meeting.
High officials of both the countries were taking part at the JEC meeting. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka inked bilateral agreement in 1979 to extend economic cooperation.
 
BBN/SSR/AD-08Mar12-9:08 am (BST)