Bangladesh urges Finland to explore investment opportunities here

Bangladesh has urged Finland to explore investment opportunities in special economic zones and hi-tech parks here.

The call came as Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen held a virtual meeting with his Finnish Counterpart Pekka Haavisto yesterday.

The two ministers discussed the possibility of initiating work on a bilateral agreement on double taxation, according to a statement of the foreign ministry.

Momen told Pekka that Bangladesh and Finland in 2022 should observe the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in a befitting manner through high-level political visits, investment dialogues and cultural exchanges.

During their hour-long meeting, the two ministers recalled Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's meeting with President Sauli Niniistö of Finland in Helsinki in June 2019. They stressed the importance of regular exchange of high-level visits and diplomatic consultations.

The Finnish foreign minister congratulated Bangladesh for the projected graduation from the LDC status in 2026. He also appreciated Bangladesh's humanitarian gesture to the forcibly displaced Rohingya from Myanmar, while assuring of leveraging Finland's engagement in certain mediation efforts in Myanmar.

Momen urged Finland and other EU member states to work towards early, voluntary repatriation of the Rohingya in safety and dignity.

The Finnish minister also recognised the contribution of Bangladesh diaspora to the Finnish society.

Bangladesh's non-resident Ambassador to Finland Nazmul Islam also joined the meeting.