D-8 Secretary General, H.E. Seyed Ali Mohammad Mousavi paid an official visit to Dhaka, Bangladesh, on 14-17 April 2013, which mark his first official visit since he assumed office earlier this year.

During the visit, he met with wide range of high dignitaries of the Bangladesh Government, such as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Industries, Minister of Agriculture, Minister for Civil Aviation & Tourism and other senior governmental officials in public and private sectors, with the aim to explore ways to further enhance cooperation between Bangladesh and D-8.

During the visit with Foreign Minister, H.E. Dr. Dipu Moni, Dr. Mousavi commended Bangladesh’s prominent role in the D-8 activities and D-8 institutional development. Dr. Mousavi sought support and guidance from Bangladesh in his efforts for widening and deepening the impact of D-8 on the socio-economic development of member states, based on the new D-8 Charter and Global Vision adopted during the last D-8 Summit. In this regard Foreign Minister assured him of her full- fledged support. 

During the visit with Industry Minister H.E. Dilip Barua, Mousavi said that intra-trade between D-8 countries is set to double in the next five years. He very much expect that the trade volume to hit $300 billion by 2018. Mousavi also pointed out that D-8; so far, four agreements have been signed and enforced among its member states: simplification of business visa, administrative assistance in customs, preferential trade agreement and civil aviation to enhance the trade volume.

Mousavi thanked the Industries Minister for making the third D-8 Ministerial Meeting held in Dhaka in October last year a grand success. “The scope for mutual cooperation has widened with the meeting.” 

Beside the agriculture and food security, transportation, civil aviation, industry, trade and energy, Mr. Dilip Barua laid emphasis on strengthening cooperation some other vibrant sectors like ship building, agro based, leather, pharmaceutical, textile, RMG (Ready Made Garments) and SMEs, said Mr. Dilip Barua. Mr. Dilip Barua very much hopeful D-8 will take place in next eleven emerging economy.

During the meeting with Dr. Mousavi, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister H.E Faruk Khan said, “We discussed briefly how to increase flying network among the D-8 nations, utilise the prospects of cross-country tourism through enhancing cooperation and strategies to increase coordination among tour operators with an aim to raise the number of tourists.” He also declared that It has been finalised that a meeting of the director generals of the civil aviation sector will be held in Dhaka on the first week of June.

Agriculture Minister H.E. Matia Chowdhury on Tuesday said the D-8 Secretary General that most of the D-8 countries are in equinoctial zone. So, sun light is a natural resource of D-8 countries. Using this sunlight, D-8 countries can get huge solar energy and this solar energy can be useable for irrigation and also for domestic purpose. She showed her interest in solar energy because it will minimize the irrigation cost and it also not very expensive to manufacture solar panel. In this regard, Matia Chowdhury told Mousavi how to establish a R&D for developing solar energy. She also added that SMEs is also very important because SME is playing a very important rule in rural people.

Photos of this visit can be viewed from our gallery photo, or by clicking here.

News related to this visit in local media can be found from the below links:

http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/04/15/d-8-secy-gen-seeks-bangladeshs-support

http://www1.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=325309&date=2013-04-15

http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-110545

http://www.theindependentbd.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=164762:d-8-to-become-powerful-economic-bloc-dipu-moni&catid=132:backpage&Itemid=122

http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/d-8-trade-to-double-in-5-years/

http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/d-8-chief-praises-dhakas-role/

http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=aa85b9dd3a706d68a9162db6788c3575&nttl=1504201367883

http://news.priyo.com/2013/04/15/d-8-trade-volume-hit-us-300bn-2018-seyed-mousavi-72645.html

http://www.dailyprimenews.com/details.php?id=9046

http://www.bdtoday.net/english/newsdetail/detail/41/5022

http://www.unbconnect.com/component/news/task-show/id-110540

http://www1.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=2&id=325316&date=2013-04-15

http://newagebd.com/detail.php?date=2013-04-16&nid=46171#.UW3Q8LXimTI

http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/04/16/new-attractions-for-coxs-bazar-sea-shore