PM’s Brussels visit ‘significant’ at a ‘crucial time’, will take Bangladesh-EU ties to a new height: Momen

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen today described Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s upcoming visit to Brussels as “extremely significant” which will help take Bangladesh’s ties with the European Union to a new height.

“This is a very significant visit. This is an achievement for us,” he told reporters, noting that the visit is happening at a “crucial moment.”

Asked why it is a crucial time, Momen referred to the upcoming general election of Bangladesh.

The foreign minister said that the EU will provide Euro 407 million to Bangladesh in the form of concessional loans and grants.

Of this, Euro 350 million will be concessional loans, he said.

Responding to a question, the foreign minister said the EU will send a seven-member team and Bangladesh will not spend money on foreign election observers.

The prime minister will attend the Global Gateway Forum, which will bring together representatives of governments from the European Union and around the world along with the private sector, civil society, leading thinkers, financing institutions, and international organisations. The event will be held in the Belgian capital on October 25, 26.

The prime minister will return home on October 27, said Momen.

He said the prime minister will have a number of meetings with leaders of European countries on the sidelines of the Forum.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, invited Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina when they met at the G20 Summit recently.

EU’s Global Gateway strategy connects countries and regions around the world by encouraging public and private investments in a global network of transportation and supply chains, green energy, modern telecommunications, education and research, with an emphasis on sustainable development and European values, such as good governance, transparency and equal partnership.