Irish Minister Simon Coveney. Photo : Collected
Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney has said Bangladesh will get Ireland as a friend in the European Union (EU) and the two countries are willing to build a “closer and more structured cooperation” in broader areas.
“What I would say is that Bangladesh should see Ireland as a friend in the European Union that can raise issues for them, potentially work with them and if they're trying to work through some difficult issues with the European Commission,” he told this in his two-day official visit to Dhaka this week.
The Irish minister said Bangladesh is going to receive a transition period from 2026 to 2029, and then Bangladesh will be looking for GSP plus status, which effectively is sort of preferential status in terms of tariffs and trade opportunities.
“So, I think the EU is open to that. Of course, there will be some conditions that the EU will want from Bangladesh as well, in relation to, you know, what the EU would regard as important - modernisation around labor laws, workers rights, environmental issues. That's normal for the EU. It's for every country,” Coveney said.
He said they always try to push environmental improvements and working conditions and labour improvements. But I think all of that is very doable.”
During a meeting with Coveney Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sought Ireland's support in Bangladesh's efforts to enjoy the preferential trade facilities in the EU market until 2032 instead of 2029 during the country's post-graduation period.
Responding to a question, the Irish minister said he spoke with the prime minister a little bit about the areas where Ireland and Bangladesh could be partners.
From a trade perspective, he said, there is certainly opportunity here for Irish companies in areas like technology, aviation, food and nutrition and pharmaceutical.
Regarding his meeting with Prime Minister's Private Industries and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman, Coveney said it was a detailed discussion around how they could put structure around this relationship.
“He (Salman) made it clear that he wanted to visit Ireland with some ministers and businesspeople so that we can try to build partnerships between Ireland and Bangladesh,” he said.
Minister Coveney said they have also looked at other ways in which they could potentially make a positive contribution to economic growth here.
They talked about the strategic economic zones that are being created here for countries to encourage companies to come and provide quality employment and incomes.
During his two-day visit, Coveney discussed the status of Bangladesh which is essentially moving from a low income country to a higher income country, and how that might change the relationship in terms of tariff-free access to the EU.
He reiterated Ireland is a country that wanted to be a friend of Bangladesh in the EU, and they could work with them in the future to make sure that the EU understands their perspective.
“I spoke to the to the deputy head of the EU Embassy here and he would say that the relationship between the EU and Bangladesh has never been better than now,” he said, adding that “I mean, no relationship is perfect. But it's a positive, strong relationship today.”
Sourse : UNB
Messenger/Sumon
