German State Secretary visits Bangladesh

by Blitz Desk
November 24, 2010

http://www.weeklyblitz.net/1124/german-state-secretary-visits-bangladesh

German State Secretary of the Federal Foreign Office Martin Biesel, accompanied by an eight member business delegation, will arrive on 24 November for a three-day official visit to Bangladesh following Foreign Minister Dipu Moni's visit to Germany in early September. The visit will provide an opportunity to deepen bilateral cooperation as it comes amid signs of growing interest of German business in Bangladesh as a trade and investment partner. The talks will focus on the development of the economic and political framework conditions.

State Secretary Martin Biesel is scheduled to hold talks with Minister of Commerce Faruk Khan as well as with Foreign Secretary Mohamed Mijarul Quayes and will meet other government representatives. He will deliver a speech on the bilateral economic and political relations at a luncheon of the Bangladesh German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BGCCI) on 24 November at the Westin Hotel. Prof Dr. Syed A. Samad, Chairman of the Board of Investment, is expected to speak on the occasion as well. On 26 November State Secretary Biesel will attend the ceremony marking the delivery of two container ships built by Western Marine Shipyard to German owner Grona Shipping GmbH in Chittagong.

Mr. Biesel will witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Geothe Institute and a new partner school, Mastermind International School in Chittagong, under the German PASCH-programme. He will also visit organisations of German development cooperation.

Since 1972 Germany has provided more than Euro 4.4 bn as direct bilateral assistance and indirect multilateral contributions to support Bangladesh on its way to eliminate poverty, to protect human rights and to achieve economic success.

Germany is the second largest export market for Bangladesh. Trade with Germany provides Bangladesh with an annual trade surplus of more than Euro 1.9 bn. In 2009 the bilateral trade volume has increased by more than 15% reaching Euro 2.3 bn. Germany is an open market with free access for Bangladesh goods, without any import tariffs.

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