The media in Bangladesh is awash in ink reporting on the highest level U.S government delegation to Bangladesh. U.S. Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Judith McHale congratulated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s attempt to reaffirm the rule of law and pluralist democracy in Bangladesh and asserted that, going forward, Bangladesh would be amongst the Muslim countries selected by the U.S government to pursue friendlier and more accomodating relations.
The Financial Express reports that,
“Asked about the critical challenges for Bangladesh, the US foreign office functionary said education, food security, global health, climate change and counter-terrorism are the challenges which require all to work together to address.”
“She noted Bangladesh has potential of natural gas reserve that might be used to address the energy issue and provide new source of income.”
“Ms McHale said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her government seem to be going down very good on the positive path. “So, there are exciting possibilities to strengthen ties between the two countries.”
Finally, when asked about any foreseeable moves to establish duty free movement of products from Bangladesh, Undersecretary McHale said that the Obama administration supports such a move. This is an important point because the U.S is Bangladesh’s principal bilateral trading partner and the terms of the relationship are skewed Bangladeshi exports. However, the tariff rate is set near 15%, whereas the tariffs for the EU 27 countries around 0.3%. Though it is somewhat a flighty fancy to suppose that goods will cross borders duty free, it is nevertheless important that the tariff be lowered so that Bangladeshi goods have a ready market, conducive to greater innovation.
It is a signal moment that comes immediately along the heels of Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Kuwait.
The Emir of Kuwait in his stead confirmed that he would invest in development projects in Bangladesh and would shore up and expand the bilteral trade between these two friendly Muslim countries.
The Daily Star reports that the two leaders and their contingent of advisors spoke about exporting skilled Bangladeshi workers to Kuwait, and Kuwaits investment in Bangladesh’s development and the Awami League governments river dredging investment to facilitate country-wide economic development .
“[Speaking] About manpower export, Hasina mentioned that her government is providing training to Bangladeshi workers on languages, customs, laws and technical know-how enabling them to work in different host countries.”
“She said Kuwait can import more Bangladeshi semi-skilled, skilled and technical people experienced in construction, power, water, civil aviation, petrochemical, gas and hospital works as they are gentle and law-abiding in nature.”
Moreover on “Kuwaiti investment in Bangladesh, Hasina urged the investors of the Middle-Eastern country to invest more in Bangladesh to cash in on her government’s lucrative investment policy and the country’s untapped potential in many sectors.”
“She said her government would provide all possible assistance for foreign investment in Bangladesh. The PM emphasized exchange of visits by businessmen of the two countries to pave the way for enhancing trade relations.” One of her standing arguments in this regard was to demonstrate that she has invested in dredging the numerous rivers that run through Bangladesh in order to facilitate transport and trade into and out of the country.
This is an important meeting. The resolutions agreed to and intimated stand behind a nearly 30 year shared history where young Bangladeshi men sought employment in Kuwait and in other affluent Gulf countries. And lacking sufficient skilled man-power these countries, including Kuwait were more than happy to welcome these men. With the recent bouldering recession, young, skilled men in Bangladesh have not been able to find employment in other more affluent countries. Sheikh Hasina’s request moves that target issue closer to some viable solution.
Sheikh Hasina seems to be playing her cards right, even though she still has much left to do.
