Staff reporter:
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir today said the hydrocarbon cooperation memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Bangladesh and Algeria had opened new avenues for energy imports and joint infrastructure development.
He made the remarks during a bilateral meeting with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf in Algiers, said a foreign ministry press release here yesterday.
Expressing satisfaction over the signing, Humaiun said the MoU opened opportunities for Bangladesh to import liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other petroleum products from Algeria under a government-to-government mechanism.
The arrangement also created scope for joint development of refineries and LNG infrastructure, alongside exploration of coal and gas fields in Bangladesh.
Attaf said Algeria’s president had issued immediate directives to prioritise the signing of the MoU in response to Bangladesh’s energy needs.
The Algerian Petroleum Institute expressed interest in providing training and knowledge-sharing programmes for Bangladeshi engineers and technicians to strengthen Bangladesh’s technical capabilities in the energy sector.
The two ministers discussed bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual concern, focusing on cooperation in energy, fertilisers, agriculture, textiles, trade, education and people-to-people contacts.
They explored ways to expand bilateral trade and investment in the energy sector for mutual benefit.
Responding to Bangladesh’s fertiliser import needs, Attaf expressed Algeria’s willingness to cooperate in the sector.
He also sought Bangladesh’s expertise in reviving Algeria’s textile industry and expressed interest in collaboration in pharmaceuticals, leather and textiles.
Both sides underscored the importance of regular Foreign Office Consultations, with the next round to be held in Dhaka soon.
They also stressed the need for exchanges of high-level visits to further consolidate bilateral relations.
