<div style="text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Australia and Bangladesh want to take the relationship between the two countries to a new height by strengthening partnership and expanding trade and investment in potential areas.</span><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Both sides are also keen to explore opportunities and turn them into reality&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 1rem;">through collaboration in order to derive reciprocal benefits.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The willingness was expressed during a meeting between Australian Assistant&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 1rem;">Minister for Trade Senator Tim Ayres and Bangladesh High Commissioner to&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Australia M Allama Siddiki accompanied by BGMEA President Faruque Hassan at the Commonwealth Parliamentary Office in Sydney yesterday, said a press release here today.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the meeting, they had discussions about general trade issues, investment opportunities and areas of collaboration.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">They also stressed on the need for finding ways to enhance trade and investment flow for adding dynamism in economic ties.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The issues of Bangladesh's economic development, LDC graduation and its&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 1rem;">associated challenges and preparations to overcome them were also discussed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Tim Ayres assured that Australia would continue duty free facility for&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 1rem;">Bangladesh's exports even after graduation out of LDC in 2026.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Faruque Hassan expressed thanks to Australia for supporting Bangladesh in its&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 1rem;">journey towards development, particularly for the decision of continuation of&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 1rem;">duty free market access in the post LDC period.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">Highlighting the trade potential, he said Bangladesh considers Australia as a&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 1rem;">promising market for apparel exports, especially high-end fashion items.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">The BGMEA President also pointed to Bangladesh's interest in enhancing&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 1rem;">exports of cotton and wool from Australia for its RMG sector, emphasizing the&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 1rem;">need for enhancing industry connections between Australian exporters of raw&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: 1rem;">materials like cotton, wool and importers and manufacturers in Bangladesh.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It would create a win-win situation for both the countries, he added. BSS</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh&nbsp;</div>