Dhaka, Jakarta seek to elevate bilateral ties to strategic partnership

Bangladesh and Indonesia have pledged to further strengthen bilateral relations, with Indonesia expressing interest in upgrading the existing partnership to a long-term strategic partnership.

The commitment came at a bilateral meeting between Indonesian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Anis Matta and Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir at the latter’s office on Tuesday.

The two sides discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, including trade and investment, energy, health, disaster management, education and training, consular cooperation, and matters of mutual interest at regional and multilateral forums.

During the meeting, State Minister Kobir put forward five proposals to deepen relations between the two countries. These include restoring visa-on-arrival facilities for Bangladeshi nationals in Indonesia, increasing Indonesian imports of Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products, procuring jute bags from Bangladesh under a government-to-government arrangement, opening the Indonesian market to Bangladeshi potatoes and establishing institutional cooperation in disaster management.

Kobir handed over a draft memorandum of understanding on disaster management to the Indonesian vice minister.

Highlighting Indonesia’s position as the world’s largest halal food consumer market, Kobir also stressed the need to strengthen cooperation in the halal sector.

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He urged Indonesia to work towards elevating bilateral economic relations through a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Thanking Kobir for the invitation and hospitality, Anis Matta welcomed Bangladesh’s proposals and said Indonesia was interested in upgrading bilateral relations to a long-term strategic partnership.

To this end, he proposed undertaking priority joint projects over the next five to 10 years to achieve the goal of a strategic partnership.

He also encouraged both sides to explore the possibility of establishing direct flights between Dhaka and Jakarta to strengthen people-to-people connectivity.

Kobir thanked Indonesia for its continued support for Bangladesh at regional and international forums and sought Jakarta’s backing for Bangladesh’s application for Sectoral Dialogue Partnership of ASEAN, membership of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the safe, dignified and sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas to their homeland in Myanmar.

Anis Matta assured Indonesia’s continued support on these issues.

Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including senior officials of its South East Asia Wing, as well as the ambassadors of Bangladesh and Indonesia based in the two capitals, attended the meeting.

Anis Matta is visiting Bangladesh from 5 to 9 October at the invitation of State Minister Kobir.