Dhaka, Minsk ink 7 deals

Prime minister Sheikh Hasina and Belarus Prime Minister Mikhail Myasnikovich exchange documents after the signing of seven deals for enhancing cooperation between the two countries yesterday at the House of Government in Minsk.. Photo: PMO

Bangladesh and Belarus yesterday signed seven deals, including two agreements and four memorandums of understanding, aimed at enhancing cooperation in different sectors.
Ministers and officials concerned of the two countries signed the instruments after official talks between the premiers of two countries at the House of Government in Minsk.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Belarus counterpart Mikhail V Myasnikovich witnessed the signing ceremony.
During the official talks, both the countries agreed to boost bilateral cooperation on agriculture, trade and commerce as well as to deepen economic relations.
After the talks, both the premiers spoke at a joint press briefing.
Hasina said the landmark visit of Myasnikovich to Bangladesh in November last was highlighted by signing of 12 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs).
"Today, our bilateral meeting took stock of the progress we made since then and discussed the areas of future collaboration," she told newsmen.
The two high-level visits, within such a short period of time, had produced a positive atmosphere in both the countries and opened up the scope for trade, investment and cooperation in various fields, Hasina said.
"I have also requested Prime Minister Myasnikovich for technology transfer and massive investment in Bangladesh, taking into consideration our strategic location in South and Southeast Asia," she added.
Hasina said the two countries have agreed on deepening economic relations to explore and exploit all the avenues of economic cooperation.
"I am happy to note that already private sector groups have signed an instrument for establishing a dairy plant in Bangladesh with Belarus' assistance. This should inspire others to make similar beneficial arrangements," she said.
"The signing of the two MoUs on cultural cooperation and on education cooperation between universities will prove to be very beneficial in this regard," Hasina said.
The premier also said they had discussed cooperation in sports as well.
"We also signed an MoU on peaceful cooperation on nuclear energy… We have agreed to establish a committee on joint military cooperation," she said.
Hasina continued: "I have requested Prime Minister Myasnikovich to support Bangladesh in getting privileges in the customs union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation.”
SEVEN DEALS
At the signing ceremony, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni and Belarus Minister for Taxes and Duties Vladimir Poluyan inked an agreement on avoidance of double taxation.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Belarus SM Saiful Huq and Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Roumas signed a framework agreement on commodity export credit.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy was signed by Dipu Moni and Belarus Minister for Energy Vladimir Potupchik.
Dipu Moni and Belarus Minister for Culture Boris Svetlov signed an MoU on cultural cooperation between the two countries.
On cooperation between diplomatic training academies of the two countries, an MoU was inked by Foreign Secretary Shahidul Huq and Rector of Belarus University Dr Anatol Marazevich.
An MoU between Shahjalal University and Belarus University was signed by Vice Chancellor of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology Dr Elias Uddin Biswas and Vice Rector of Belarus University Dr Andrei Goronovsky.
A joint declaration of intent on preferential export loan was signed by Ambassador SM Saiful Huq and Vladimir Amarin, first deputy minister of finance of Belarus.
Hasina also invited Myasnikovich to visit Bangladesh again to give further momentum to the relations between the two countries.