Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday expressed hope that the European Union (EU) will offer GSP+ to Bangladesh for supporting its LDC graduation in 2026.
“I hope that the EU will offer GSP+ to Bangladesh to support our development following our LDC graduation in 2026,” she said.
The prime minister said this when she and President of the European Commission Ursula Von der Leyen were delivering their statements after a bilateral meeting between the two leaders at the EC headquarters here in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium.
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Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh-EU partnership, she said, “We are pleased that the EU is now Bangladesh’s largest trading partner.”
She said the EU’s Everything-but-Arms scheme contributed immensely to Bangladesh’s socio-economic development. She recalled formalizing this arrangement during her first term in office in 2000.
Talking about a 350 million Euro finance contract Dhaka signed with the European Investment Bank, she said Bangladesh appreciates EU’s interest in partnering with it on climate action and renewable energy.
The Bangladesh PM thanked the EU for its humanitarian assistance for the 1.2 million Rohingyas being temporarily sheltered by Bangladesh.
“The solution to the Rohingya crisis lies in their safe and sustainable return to their homeland in Myanmar. I urge the EU to remain engaged for an early durable solution to the crisis,” she said.
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PM Hasina said they have renewed commitment to promote workers’ rights as well as safe and regular migration. “I flagged our interest in partnering on research and innovation to find solutions to some of our local challenges. We are planning for a future partnership with the EU focusing more on strategic elements,” she added.
She said they have agreed to launch negotiations on a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement very soon. “This would open a new chapter in our excellent bilateral relations,” she said.
EC President Ursula Von der Leyen in her statement said Bangladesh and the European Union celebrate the 50 years of diplomatic relations between them.
“In all these years, we’ve built a solid partnership and now we take it to the next level,” she said.
Talking about the loan and grants package for the renewable energy of Bangladesh, the EC said the investment package of more than 400 million euro is good for climate and also good for job creation locally.