Bangladesh delegation meets Algerian PM as MoU signed on energy cooperation

A Bangladesh delegation led by Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood paid a courtesy call on Algerian Prime Minister Sifi Ghrieb yesterday (20 October).

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and Bangladesh’s ambassador to Algeria accompanied the delegation.

The two sides discussed a wide range of issues to further strengthen bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of Bangladesh and Algeria, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hassan Mahmood said there was significant scope for cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, fertilisers, education, science, technology, sports and culture.

He called for greater trade and investment in the energy sector for the benefit of the people of both countries.

The energy minister also urged the Algerian authorities to collaborate in organising knowledge-sharing and training programmes for engineers and experts in the sector.

State Minister Kobir expressed satisfaction over the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the hydrocarbons sector between Bangladesh and Algeria.

He said the agreement had opened new avenues for Bangladesh to import liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and other petroleum products from Algeria under a government-to-government (G2G) mechanism. It had also created opportunities to adopt best practices in developing LNG infrastructure and exploring coal and gas fields in Bangladesh.

Kobir stressed the importance of exchanging high-level visits to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

The Algerian prime minister said his government attached great importance to further strengthening bilateral relations with Bangladesh.

He added that there was ample scope for complementary trade, commerce and investment between the two brotherly countries.