<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday urged Belgium to build high standard ships in Bangladesh alongside enhancing cooperation in several sectors including pharmaceuticals and renewable energy.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>“We are building ships now. But you can come here in Bangladesh to manufacture high standard ships. We are building a large seaport in Payra. So, you are most welcome,” she told her Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo in a bilateral meeting held at the FPS Chancellery here.</div><div><br></div><div>Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen briefed reporters about the outcome of Sheikh Hasina’s engagement in Brussels, the capital city of Belgium.</div><div><br></div><div>Croo expressed his hope that they would work on bilateral cooperation in the renewable energy sector.</div><div><br></div><div>In reply, Sheikh Hasina said Belgium can work with Bangladesh not only in renewable energy, but also in the shipbuilding sector.</div><div><br></div><div>In the meeting, Bangladesh also proposed Belgium to sign a partnership agreement over cooperation in the pharmaceuticals sector, said Momen.</div><div><br></div><div>When the Belgian Prime Minister said his country is very good in the pharmaceutical industry, the Bangladesh PM said her country is also good in pharmaceuticals as it fulfills 90 percent of domestic needs and exports pharmaceutical items to 117 countries across the world.</div><div><br></div><div>“Belgium was asked to sign a partnership agreement over the pharmaceuticals sector. If so, Belgium can produce pharmaceutical items at affordable prices.&nbsp; Croo liked the proposal,” said Momen.</div><div><br></div><div>The Belgium premier highly praised the economic success attained in recent years and last year’s celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Belgium.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina appreciated the dredging and spanning machines Bangladesh imported from Belgium saying that the two countries can work further to enhance cooperation in this regard.</div><div><br></div><div>In this context, the Belgian premier said the European country is the world’s number-1 in dredging.</div><div><br></div><div>“It was a very cordial discussion with (her Belgian counterpart) Alexander De Croo. The discussion was very fruitful,” said Momen.</div><div><br></div><div>In another bilateral meeting with Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, Sheikh Hasina asked Luxembourg to share its banking sector’s expertise with Bangladesh as the European country has a good banking system.</div><div><br></div><div>“You’ve good expertise in the banking sector. You can share your banking sector’s expertise,” said the Bangladesh PM.</div><div><br></div><div>In response, Luxemburg's PM assured her of considering this proposal to help develop the banking sector of Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>In the meeting, it was expected that an air service agreement would be signed between the two countries soon to boost bilateral trade and business.</div><div><br></div><div>Besides, the bilateral cooperation in ICT and renewable energy sectors came up for discussion in the meeting.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina asked Belgium and Luxembourg to extend the quota and tariff-free access for Bangladeshi goods to their markets till 2032 instead of 2029 under ‘Everything but Arms (EBA) scheme (for LDCs)'.</div><div><br></div><div>"Continue the EBA facility till 2032 instead of 2029 as the graduation should not be punished rather should be rewarded," she said, adding that Bangladesh is set to graduate from the LDC in 2026.</div><div><br></div><div>Sheikh Hasina invited Alexander De Croo and Xavier Bettel to visit Bangladesh.</div><div><br></div><div>Later, the Bangladesh Prime Minister attended the closing session of the Global Gateway Forum 2023.</div><div><br></div><div>Momen said the Prime Minister has become the star at the event. “She has really become a star and a real icon,” he added.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>Noting that the Prime Minister received applause from the participants of the forum and the EU leaders, the Foreign Minister said such appreciation just two months before the next general election has immensely brightened the image of the country. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>