Bangladesh-Morocco ties to reach ‘new horizon’ under PM’s leadership: Shama Obaed

Bangladesh is keen to deepen engagement with African nations and strengthen its partnership with Morocco under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam has said during an official visit to Rabat.

“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh is keen to deepen its engagement with African nations and elevate its partnership with Morocco to a new horizon of cooperation, shared prosperity and strategic opportunity,” she said during a meeting with Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita yesterday (19 May). 

The two leaders discussed expanding bilateral cooperation and stressed the importance of sustained high-level exchanges to strengthen political ties between the two countries.

During the meeting, Shama Obaed recalled the visit of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to Morocco in 1980 and thanked the Moroccan government for naming an avenue in Rabat after him.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation in trade and investment, textiles, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, sports, culture, agriculture, education, women’s empowerment, shipbuilding and people-to-people connectivity, alongside stronger multilateral collaboration.

They also agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in Dhaka at the earliest opportunity to review ongoing cooperation and identify new areas of mutual interest.
The state minister invited the Moroccan foreign minister to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.

Later, Shama Obaed held a bilateral meeting with Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour, where she highlighted Bangladesh’s improved investment climate and proposed exchanges of business delegations to increase commercial engagement.

In response, the Moroccan minister expressed interest in sending a business delegation to Bangladesh by the end of 2026.

The two sides also discussed expanding government-to-government cooperation in agriculture, particularly to ensure a more reliable supply chain of phosphate exports to support Bangladesh’s food security and agricultural development.

Shama Obaed reiterated Bangladesh’s interest in promoting eco-friendly jute and jute products in the Moroccan market.

Both leaders pledged deeper cooperation in innovation, industrial training, information and communication technology, and artificial intelligence.

They also discussed the possibility of signing a free trade agreement to strengthen bilateral trade further.

On the same day, the state minister met Morocco’s Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills Younes Sekkouri.

During the meeting, she briefed him on the Bangladesh government’s social protection initiatives, including the “Family Card” and “Farmers’ Card” programmes, as well as development projects such as canal re-excavation.

The two leaders explored opportunities for cooperation in employment generation, vocational training, skills development, women and youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprise development.

They stressed the importance of closer collaboration through knowledge-sharing, technical exchanges and institutional partnerships.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Morocco Sadia Faizunnesa and Foreign Ministry Director General (Africa) Abdur Rouf Mondol accompanied the state minister during the meetings.

Shama Obaed is currently visiting Morocco to attend the Second Ministerial Conference on Peacekeeping in a Francophone Environment, scheduled to be held in Rabat today (20 May).