DHAKA, Jan. 31, Reuter: Canadian External Affairs Minister, Joe Clark, arrived in Bangladesh today for a five-day visit which officials said would strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
He was greeted at Dhaka airport by Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Humayun Rasheed Chowdhury.
“We consider Clark’s visit as very important because Canada is one of Bangladesh’s main development partners,” Chowdhury told Reuters.
Officials earlier said the two Ministers would hold talks on future Canadian assistance to Bangladesh and discuss bilateral and international matters. They gave no details.
Clark, the most senior Canadian official to visit Dhaka since former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau in 1983, will meet President Hossain Mohammad Ershad and visit Canadian aided projects, the Officials said.
Commerce Ministry officials told Reuters that Clark was expected to sign two agreements providing Dhaka with nearly 55 million U.S. Dollars for importing raw materials and edible oil. They gave no details.
According to official figures, Canada has offered Bangladesh one billion U.S. dollars in grants since 1972, mainly to finance development projects and food imports.
Bangladesh exported jute and garments work 13 million US. dollars to Canada during the 198586 fiscal year ended last June and in return imported chemicals, machinery and other goods worth 12 million, they said.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 6, 1987
