Dhaka, Jan 19 (V7N)— Bangladesh and Argentina, bonded by their shared passion for football, are now exploring opportunities to strengthen ties in trade and bilateral cooperation. Chief Advisor Dr. Muhammad Yunus highlighted the potential for collaboration during a meeting with Argentine Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcelo Sessa at the State Guest House Jamuna on Sunday.

Dr. Yunus remarked on the emotional connection between the two nations, which was prominently displayed during the last FIFA World Cup. "We have an emotional bond. We can build on that. The ground is ready. We can take it to other areas as well," he said.

The Chief Advisor urged Argentina to expand cotton trade with Bangladesh and explore investment opportunities in sectors such as textiles and energy, potentially through wholly owned ventures or joint initiatives.

Ambassador Marcelo Sessa emphasized the untapped potential in the relationship between the two countries. He advocated for the opening of a Bangladeshi embassy in Buenos Aires to facilitate stronger ties. “If the embassy is opened, we will be able to utilize the good relations we have for the welfare of both countries,” he stated.

Currently, bilateral trade stands at approximately $700 million, largely in Argentina’s favour. The ambassador expressed his government's commitment to balancing this trade by increasing imports from Bangladesh, which presently include $22 million worth of ready-made garments.

Ambassador Sessa also proposed closer cooperation in areas such as cotton trade, joint investments, the pharmaceutical industry, textiles, football development (including women's football), microfinance, LNG, and agricultural advancements like rice disease prevention.

In a separate meeting, Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Nardia Simpson paid a farewell visit to Dr. Yunus. Reflecting on her four years in Bangladesh, she described her experience as "extraordinary" and praised the generosity and hospitality of the Bangladeshi people.

The discussions touched on significant events over the past year and mutual interests between Bangladesh and Australia.

Lamia Morshed, Chief Coordinator for SDGs at the Office of the Chief Advisor, along with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were present at both meetings.

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