Bangladesh-Sri Lanka Relations:
Focus on comparative advantage
There is no doubt that Sri Lanka's President Sirisena's visit to Dhaka earlier this month and the 14 Agreements and MOUs signed with the Bangladesh government, mark a new and significant advance in bilateral ties. The sectors covered are wide ranging and include information technology, agriculture, education, trade, investment, banking, shipping, tourism, media and collaboration between foreign- service academies and others. The broad aim is to assist each other in areas of comparative advantage.
The relationship of the two countries already has a long history. They are both Commonwealth countries within the South Asia region and share membership of many regional and international organisations such as SAARC, SAFTA, APTA, BIMSTEC, WTO and UN organisations. Both countries have many points of similarity, such as a large diaspora settled abroad and migrant workers supporting respective economies by their remittances. A new era opened in January 2015 when Maithripala Sirisena, heading a 'rainbow' reformist coalition combining Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims, won the presidential election.
It is against this positive scenario that President Sirisena came to Bangladesh on a three day state visit, from 13 to 15 July 2017. It was felt on both sides that this was the right time to forge strong bilateral relations.
To cite a few examples, in Bangladesh approximately 77 percent of its workforce and two thirds of its rural areas are agricultural. Although in a vulnerable country susceptible to climate change, floods and saline intrusion this sector has made significant strides in reducing poverty from 48.9 percent in 2000 to 31.5 percent by 2010. Irrigation, high yielding rice crops, judicious marketing, flood tolerant rice varieties, positive government policy, collaboration with aid agencies, training and investment has brought results. It is now focusing on diversification and use of new technology to further raise the quality and the range of agricultural products for export. Sri Lanka has a relatively conservative agricultural sector which can be upgraded by sharing experience, both between agricultural institutes and at grassroots levels.
Bangladesh, meanwhile, has a lot to gain from Sri Lanka in terms of taking the latter's best practices to improve the education sector at all levels. Sri Lanka has a high quality, market oriented and ICT based education system, able to take advantage of remarkable innovations in technology which require skilled human resources. Its higher education is very competitive and selective. Emphasis is placed on English language ability, ICT and mathematics. Examinations test not only students' knowledge but their cognitive skills and analytical abilities. The aim is to produce a creative and innovative management and work force with good analytical ability.
Less than 15 percent of students qualifying from good secondary schools can enrol in higher education. The remainder can find alternative routes through the Open University, vocational colleges or by going abroad. Teachers are well trained, student assessment is stringent and education generally is of an international level.
In the area of disaster management Bangladesh is a leader and Sri Lanka can benefit from our experience in this field. The government through 'National Plan for Disaster Management' has taken a holistic approach to implement resourceful methods to help its people during floods, cyclones, droughts and other adverse impacts of climate change. They include institutionalising a risk reduction framework and imaginative strategies to assist the target population. Early warning, disaster shelters, food supply, medical assistance and proactive rehabilitation procedures are in place and are being further improved. NGOs, CBOs, resource groups all make concerted efforts to mitigate disaster. During his visit President Sirisena commented that he would "explore the possibility of getting some help from Bangladesh regarding disaster management and recovery."
The banking system of Sri Lanka is strong and vibrant, with the prestigious Central Bank known for its proficiency. The Colombo Stock Exchange is one of the most modern in South Asia, with fully automatic trading system, monitoring procedures and, transparent methods. Here Bangladesh can learn from the Sri Lankan model.
Both countries promote tourism. Sri Lanka's tourism has revived as stability returned. Two million tourists visited Sri Lanka in 2016. Yet despite its many places of historical and natural interest, Bangladesh attracts far fewer tourists. It is felt that with enabling infrastructure and facilities it also could attract large number of foreign tourists. Bangladesh can assess the facilities of Sri Lanka for its own benefit.
Bangladesh is a vibrant growing economy with the second largest RMG sector in the world after China. The mostly female garment workers are skilled and together with ancillary industries form a formidable workforce. Its economy is being further strengthened by diversification into light engineering, pharmaceuticals, leather goods, and construction. In these areas of RMG, together with agriculture and climate management Bangladesh has shown itself to be both creative and strong thereby enhancing its growth and potential. Its GDP growth rate in 2017 is 7.5percent, one of the highest in the region.
Sri Lanka's strength lies in sound financial management; a robust banking sector; vibrant commerce; technological expertise; quality education; skilled human capital; tourism and a strong shipping sector, due both to good management and geographical location. The country in its post-conflict era has been able to achieve prosperity in an ethnically diverse society. Its GDP growth rate in 2017 is 5.0percent.
Prime Minister Hasina has also highlighted the importance of both states working together in various sectors addressing common issues such as drug trafficking and illegal immigrants. Bangladesh also solicited Sri Lanka's support for its candidature as a non-permanent member of the UNSC. President Sirisena assured his support. Sri Lanka is India's second largest trading partner in the region. The new agreements and MOUs should in time help make Bangladesh and Sri Lanka stronger trading partners to mutual benefit.
President Sirisena's visit to Dhaka demonstrates a wider trend of smaller Asian countries becoming increasingly prepared to engage in more bi-lateral trade and investment amongst themselves by- passing any strains in regional politics.
Selina Mohsin is a former ambassador.