Australia looks to boost trade, promote defence cooperation
The risk of conflict in the Indo-Pacific is increasing. Australia, one of the major powers in the region, is gearing up its relations with countries including Bangladesh. How would relations between Australia and Bangladesh look like in future? Jeremy Bruer, Australian high commissioner to Bangladesh, shared details with Porimol Palma of The Daily Star.
The Daily Star (DS): How has the bilateral relationship been so far and where does it stand now?
Jeremy Bruer (JB): Australia has been a strong friend of Bangladesh since before independence. In 1971, Australia quickly provided emergency aid to those displaced by the war, and we have continued to provide support ever since. Now, Australia is supporting a wide range of development investments to support Bangladesh's transition to a middle-income country. Our longstanding Strategic Partnership Arrangement (SPA) with Brac means that Australian aid reaches a large number of people and areas of Bangladesh. We are contributing $85 million over the next five years to the third phase of SPA. We're also supporting viable private sector opportunities through Australia's new Emerging Markets Impact Investment Fund and the Business Partnerships Platform.
Our two-way trade has grown over 550 percent in the past decade, reaching $2.6 billion in 2019-20. At any one time, there are between 6,000 and 7,000 Bangladeshis studying in Australia. There are around 80,000 Bangladeshi-Australians living in Australia. Today, our focus is on protecting the gains that had been achieved previously as well as supporting Bangladesh's health security, stability and economic recovery. This year, when we celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, we look forward to supporting Bangladesh's recovery from Covid-19, strengthening our defence cooperation and promoting a secure, prosperous and inclusive Indo-Pacific.
DS: Australia and Bangladesh last year signed the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA). What are the investments Australia is planning in Bangladesh?
JB: Australia hosted the first talks with Bangladesh under the TIFA in February this year. This was a significant achievement. We recognise the strength and depth of the economic relationship and the opportunities to grow and diversify trade.
There is great complementarity between our two markets -- Australia exports materials that Bangladesh needs to manufacture goods, including for export to countries like Australia. Australian businesses are increasingly interested in Bangladesh due to the rise in demand of our high-quality products and services and the improved infrastructure linkages and regional connectivity in the Bay of Bengal region.
Australian businesses see further opportunities to diversify trade and investment with Bangladesh in textiles and apparel, agricultural products such as wool, agribusiness, fisheries, food and beverages, minerals, manufacturing, ICT services, skills development and education services.
Australia is also well placed to supply energy resources, such as LNG, to help fuel Bangladesh's growing demand for electricity. We are also seeking to increase defence cooperation with Bangladesh given our mutual interests in supporting regional stability.
DS: Australia is putting high importance on security cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. What are your plans with Bangladesh in this regard?
JB: Australia and Bangladesh share interests in ensuring the Indian Ocean region remains secure, open and prosperous. Australia is exploring ways to work with regional partners, including Bangladesh, to support regional stability. Australia's Defence Strategic Update (2020) identifies the North East Indian Ocean as part of our immediate region where we need to tighten the focus of our defence planning and engagement.
We value our longstanding cooperation on combating people- and drug-smuggling and other illegal maritime ventures. One priority area for cooperation in the near future is in peace operations training and preparation. Recognising the high importance of the relationship with Bangladesh, our first resident defence adviser arrived in Dhaka in mid-August. We look forward to strengthening defence cooperation between Australia and Bangladesh. Australia and Bangladesh have participated in a number of multilateral exercises together.
DS: Myanmar's turmoil and the Rohingya crisis have left Bangladesh and the whole region in trouble. Is it possible to advance the region's development without addressing the Myanmar crisis?
JB: The situation in Myanmar is extraordinarily challenging, but Australia is committed to working closely with Bangladesh and with ASEAN, among others, to foster peace. We are advocating for accountability for crimes committed through the International Court of Justice, the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar and the International Criminal Court.
We have consistently made clevar Australia's strong support for ASEAN's regional leadership in responding to the crisis. We continue to urge the Myanmar military to honour its commitment to ASEAN's leaders to implement the Five Point Consensus.
To signal our desire for peace on the global stage, Australia cosponsored the UN resolution on the "Situation of human rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar" last year. Australia is continuing to maintain pressure on the Myanmar regime. Even as we seek a durable solution, Australia remains committed to supporting Bangladesh as it hosts the Rohingya. Since August 2017, we have provided almost $350 million in humanitarian assistance in Cox's Bazar. We keep our sanctions regime under active review and strongly support a global arms embargo against Myanmar.
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