The two countries held the first-ever Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) on Tuesday that covered the whole gamut of bilateral issues, including political relations and enhanced cooperation, especially in the fields of trade and investment, education, culture, agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals and peacekeeping under the UN.

At the FOC, Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque led the Bangladesh side while the Ethiopian delegation was led by Ambassador Mahlet Hailu Guadye, Permanent Secretary (Foreign Secretary), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here on Wednesday.

The Bangladesh head of delegation shared some of the economic and social sector success stories of the country under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He informed the Ethiopian delegation about the provisions and privileges of foreign investment in Bangladesh.

Both sides discussed the various matters of the bilateral agenda, possible areas of cooperation and also stressed the need for framework for cooperation and consultation.

Before consultations, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Bilateral Consultations between the Foreign Ministry of Bangladesh and the Foreign Ministry of Ethiopia was signed by the respective Foreign Secretaries of the two countries.

The Ambassador of Bangladesh to Ethiopia, Director General (Africa) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a number of senior officials from different government ministries and organisations were also present at the FOC.

Both Bangladesh and Ethiopia agreed to continue Foreign Office Consultations on a regular basis in each other’s capital.

The next round of FOC between the two countries would take place at a mutually convenient date and time in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.