Bangladesh-Andorra bilateral relations continue to expand

Bangladesh's bilateral relations with Andorra, a country in South-West Europe, situated between Spain and France in the Pyrenees Mountains, is gradually widening in different areas including public diplomacy, trade and commerce, and education.
The new aspects of this possibility and expectation were revealed during a bilateral meeting of the Ambassador of Bangladesh to Spain, Andorra and Equatorial Guinea, Mohammad Sarwar Mahmud, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Andorra Maria Ubach Font and representatives of various organisations.
The Bangladesh ambassador made a two-day visit to the country to attend state functions on the occasion of 'National Constitution Day' of Andorra as a state guest.
In a meeting with the foreign minister in the capital of Andorra La Veia on March 14, both converged on the need to augment bilateral cooperation in various sectors.
During the meeting, the Bangladesh ambassador expressed his cordial wishes for the continued prosperity of Andorra.
On the next day, Ambassador Mohammad Sarwar presented the keynote at a seminar entitled "Bangabandhu's Bangladesh in Andorra" at the University of Andorra organised by the Embassy of Bangladesh in Madrid.
The ambassador briefed the audience about the political legacy and philosophy of global peace of the Architect of the independent Bangladesh, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his foreign policy, 'Vision Smart Bangladesh 2041' declared by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, prospects of the expansion of Andorra-Bangladesh bilateral relations, the abiding responsibility of the international community in resolving the Rohingya issue, and Bangladesh's bid to have March 25 recognised by the global community as the "Genocide Day."
Rector (Vice Chancellor) of the host university Miquel Nicolau Vila told he would soon propose an MoU on institutional collaboration on academic exchange programmes between his university and those of Bangladesh.
The seminar was also attended by Head of the Faculty of International Relations Nadia Boudadi, Director of the Centre for Virtual and Extension Studies Montserrat Ramonet, Head of the Faculty of Science and Health Education Virginia Rada, diplomats of the Foreign Ministry of Andorra and prominent academicians.
Later, at noon, the ambassador held a meeting with the President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Andorra Josep Mas Torres, Vice President Ricard Vicens Rodriguez and several other officials of the Chamber.
The ambassador said Andorra, a country fully dependent on imports, could accrue much benefit from importing apparels, jute and leather goods, and pharmaceutical and consumer items direct from Bangladesh.
He also urged the Andorran business community to take advantage of many lucrative incentives offered to foreign investments in the Export Processing Zones (EPZs), Hightech Parks and Specialized Economic Zones (SEZs) in Bangladesh.
In the afternoon, the ambassador held a meeting with the Head of Education and Green Tech Division of Andorra Business, an advisory body affiliated to the Ministry of Economic Affairs of Andorra. The two sides shared useful views on climate change phenomenon, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adoption of green and clean technologies and tourism.
The author is a Bangladeshi expatriate journalist in Spain