State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam held bilateral talks with Deputy Foreign Minister of South Africa Ms. Candith Mashego Dlamini in Pretoria yesterday (03 February) during his official visit to South Africa.

At the meeting, State Minister Shahriar Alam, mentioning the excellent existing relations between the two countries, stated that Bangladesh and South Africa have common objectives of socio-economic development and huge potentials lie to develop the trade and investment relations. He viewed that the signature of visa waiver agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders and agreement on avoidance of double taxation between Bangladesh and South Africa will facilitate contacts and increase trade and investment between the two countries.

Referring to his meeting with the Business Unity South Africa which took place on Thursday (02 February), the State Minister said that the chambers' organization has shown interest in working with Bangladeshi chambers. He expressed hope that with mutual efforts, the bilateral trade may be enhanced to the tune of one billion dollars. He proposed formation of a Bangladesh-South Africa business council comprising different chamber officials and businessmen to assess business potentials and discuss business matters.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of South Africa Ms. Dlamini referred to the recent high level visits that took place between Bangladesh and South Africa recently. She mentioned that both the South African and Bangladeshi peoples are resilient and enterprising. She underlined more cooperation in trade and economic areas between Bangladesh and South Africa. She welcomed Bangladeshi investors to invest in tourism, textiles and other sectors in South Africa. She remarked that as both sides have identified the potential areas of cooperation,  institutional cooperation should be enhanced to further develop the relations.

The Deputy Foreign Minister cited that trade and Investment, culture, social development, textiles, climate change, energy security and commodity supply chain areas are most potential areas of cooperation. She underlined the need of holding regular foreign office meetings between the two countries. She viewed that air service connectivity and B2B contacts would help develop business relations and contacts. She proposed that both sides may exchange knowledge in agriculture and peacekeeping areas. She assured that the South African government would try to ease the visa procedure of Bangladeshi applicants.

State Minister Shahriar Alam thanked the South African government for their support in favour of Bangladesh's candidature at the UN and sought support for few other candidatures. He also thanked the South African government for their support on the Rohingya issue and sought their cooperation for the repatriation of the forcibly displaced Rohingya people to their homeland.

In response to the proposal for contract farming by Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in South Africa, Ms. Dlamini commented that there may be exchange of knowledge between both sides in the area and the matter may be explored. She commended the existing level of partnership between Bangladesh and South Africa and underscored the need for more engagement of private sectors in order to carry forward the trade and economic relations. Both sides agreed to continue working together to develop the bilateral relations to further heights.

The High Commissioner of Bangladesh to South Africa and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh were present at the meeting.