n 1 June 2016, H.E. Mr. Mohammed Shahriar Alam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Don Pramudwinai, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, along with the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Thailand and officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh. The State Minister was on his visit to Thailand to attend the Bangladesh Trade and Investment Expo 2016, organized by the Embassy of Bangladesh in Bangkok.
Both sides exchanged views on various issues of mutual interest, particularly cooperation on trade and investment. The Bangladeshi side proposed that Thailand should import more products such as ready-made garments and jute related products from Bangladesh to reduce the bilateral trade imbalance. In term of investment, Bangladesh has become an important destination for the Thai private sector and some major Thai companies had already invested in Bangladesh. The Thai Foreign Minister wished to see a greater volume of investment of Thai businessmen in Bangladesh. Both sides also agreed to enhance regional connectivity by land, sea and air, as well as coastal shipping, which would help reduce cost and time of goods transportation.
The Thai Foreign Minister viewed that all economic cooperation between the two countries should be discussed within the framework of the Joint Trade Commission Meeting-JTC (Commerce Minister-level) and proposed that, on the issue of connectivity, Bangladesh should utilize the Economic Corridors in the region and the Dawei Deep-sea Port Project in Myanmar for better connection with Thailand.
In addition, Bangladesh proposed that both sides should set up a joint working group to discuss ways and means to combat transnational crime and terrorism. The Bangladeshi side also expressed its intention to become a dialogue partner of ASEAN. Lastly, with a view to strengthening bilateral relations in all dimensions, Bangladesh was ready to host the 7th Joint Commission Meeting or JC (Foreign Minister-level) by the end of this year.
On this occasion, the Thai Foreign Minister extended his condolences to Bangladesh for loss of lives and casualties caused by Cyclone Roanu, and informed Bangladesh that the Royal Thai Government had approved the financial contribution of 2 million baht to assist those affected by Cyclone Roanu in Bangladesh.
