Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen yesterday said the government wants the country's trade and economic relations with global partners to flourish more.

"We have always been open, democratic, inclusive and constructive," he said.

He added the government's priority is to pursue national developmental ambitions with prime objective to ensure people's security, dignity and well-being.

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshi's World Conference Series-2022 held at a city hotel, on the topic "Branding Bangladesh".

He said economic and public diplomacy has been important in formulating and executing Bangladesh's foreign policy.

The foreign ministry is already working with the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority to design a solid branding initiative for the country, he added.

The minister said his ministry wants Bangladesh's stories to be echoed in every corner of the world. "When people hear the word 'Bangladesh', I want them to see a country of infinite potential."

Momen said Bangladesh's peacekeeping role has already earned the country a "brand name" in UN peacekeeping missions. He also urged Bangladeshis across the globe to uphold the country's achievements against negative propaganda.

Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman said remittance has been a significant source of Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserve, saying its contribution is "critical" to the balance of payment. He said workers who are seeking jobs overseas should be equipped with good skills, while there should be employment opportunity for those who are returning home.

State Minister for Planning Shamsul Alam said immediately after the independence, Bangladesh was branded negatively as a "basket case", but the transformation towards development has led the international community to term the country as a "development miracle".

In his speech, Chief of Army Staff of Bangladesh General SM Shafiuddin Ahmed said, "Since April 2020, we are the number one troops contributing country in the world [for UN peacekeeping missions]."

MS Shekil Chowdhury, chairperson of Centre for Non-Resident Bangladeshi, said the centre has so far held international conferences in more than 50 countries involving Bangladeshi communities.

Physician Prof ABM Abdullah; Kazi Rafiqul Hassan, general manager of Bangladesh Bank; Shahidul Alam, director general of Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training; and Sherwan Chowdhury, a British-Bangladeshi politician and mayor of Croydon in the UK, among others, spoke. At the programme, the centre awarded institutions and organisations including the armed forces division and banks for their contribution in upholding the country's image and generating remittance.