Speaker seeks Italy’s investment in oil, gas exploration

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has sought Italian investment in exploration of oil and gas in the country’s coastal areas.
He made the call when Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro paid a courtesy call on him at his office in Dhaka on Sunday, according to a press release.
During the meeting, both sides emphasised the need to explore oil and gas in Bangladesh’s coastal areas to help address the country’s energy needs.
The Speaker invited Italian commercial companies to participate in the process.
He appreciated Italy’s generosity towards Bangladeshi migrants and its efforts to promote the safe and legal migration of Bangladeshi workers.
Among the European Union countries, he said, Italy remains a major destination for Bangladeshi export products, while appreciating Italy’s financial assistance to Bangladesh in addressing the Rohingya issue.
Referring to Italy’s recognition of Bangladesh in 1972, Hafiz said Bangladesh has resumed its journey towards democracy through the national parliamentary election held in February. He said the expansion of parliamentary democracy has further strengthened the country’s relations with democratic nations worldwide. The Speaker also described Italy as an important commercial partner in supplying defence equipment to Bangladesh. He said Italian machinery and equipment has a significant presence in the Bangladeshi market. 
He expressed hope that the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and Italy will expand further on a strategic basis.
The Italian ambassador expressed Italy’s interest in strengthening parliamentary diplomacy through the formation of a Bangladesh-Italy parliamentary friendship group and exchanges of parliamentary delegations. Diplomatic representatives of the Italian Embassy and relevant officials of the Parliament Secretariat were present at the meeting.