Bangladesh and Ukraine need to sign deals on bilateral trade protection in order to strengthen the relations in the areas of trade and investment between the two countries. Besides, the countries should reach a deal on avoiding double taxation immediately. And these agreements would send a positive message to the entrepreneurs of the two nations. Oleksandr D. Shevchenko, the non-resident Ambassador of Ukraine to Bangladesh, said this in an interview with daily sun Business Editor Golam Shahnee and Staff Correspondent Sohel Hossain Patwari. Mentioning that his government wants to work with Bangladesh in a number of areas like technology, infrastructure, construction, electricity, and energy, the envoy said the trade between Bangladesh and Ukraine has marked an increase. Bangladesh has huge export potentials in Ukraine. To help expand trade, Ukraine has sent drafts for the agreements to Bangladesh which needs to be signed immediately. The envoy has been covering his responsibility from the Embassy based in Delhi for five countries, including India and Bangladesh. Born in 1961, Oleksandr D. Shevchenko obtained graduation from Faculty of International Relations and International Law from University of Taras Shevchenko State University in Kiev. He started diplomatic career as second secretary of Arms Control and Disarmament Directorate under the Foreign Ministry. He worked there from 1992 to 1995 as first secretary. Later, he worked for an international organisation under the foreign ministry from 1999-2000 and Middle East and African Directorate during 2002-04. He performed as second and first secretary in the UN mission of Ukraine in 1995-99 and councillor in 2000-01. He was ambassador to Malaysia in 2004-05 and to Timor in 2005-2009. He was appointed Ambassador to India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka in 2010. The following is the excerpts of the interview. Daily Sun: On this month of great victory, we would like to recall the role of the then Soviet Union for extending their support for independence of Bangladesh. As a former union of USSR, Ukraine also deserves our gratitude. How do you evaluate the 44-year-long relations? Shevchenko: Thank you very much for mentioning it. Ukraine as well as other former Soviet Union countries contributed a lot with its manpower, its intelligence and its technologies to the development of the countries. Daily Sun: How do you evaluate the 44-year-long relations between Bangladesh and Ukraine? Shevchenko: As I mentioned earlier, we contributed a lot with our technologies to the economic development of newborn countries. Our diplomatic relation has been re-established when Ukraine gained its independence in 1991. Since then, both Bangladesh and Ukraine recognised each other as independent states. We started developing cooperation not from the scratch, but basing on our experience from previous decades. There was ups and downs and economic transition period of Ukraine for transforming from socialistic state to market economy. To some extent, we lost contacts with many countries and we are working to re-establish that and to work out new agenda in our bilateral relations with different countries as well as with Bangladesh basing on mutual interest and capabilities of both sides. Daily Sun: Would you please elaborate the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Ukraine? Shevchenko: During my ambassadorship to Bangladesh, we manage to activate contact at G2G level. First of all, I would like to mention the visit of our Agriculture Minister Mykola Prysyazhnyuk in August 2011. That year was marked by exchange of visit and two Bangladesh former ministers — Industries Minister Dilip Barua and Food Minister Abdur Razzaque — visited Ukraine. We manage to develop and specify the areas of mutual interest during the visits. In particular, during our agriculture minister’s visit here, he met Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. We agreed to develop our cooperation in agriculture. In particular to supply wheat and grain to Bangladesh we signed MoU. After that, we had contact both in the United Nations and other international forum. Bilateral relation during that time was very active in our political contact. We are still working on those arrangements and ideas which we shared that time. Daily Sun: Is there anything special in this relationship? Shevchenko: As I said, we have a very good relation since 1971. We don’t have any specific bilateral problem which is very important. Bangladeshi students are going to Ukraine. We know that Bangladesh is famous for textiles and garment products which are now imported by Ukraine. We offer each other what can be of interests of each of the nations. In sense of our relation in the international forum, we note the contribution of Bangladesh to UN peacekeeping operations in many ways. Daily Sun: Former USSR had exchanged extensive education programme for the students of Bangladesh. What sort of education programmes does your government provide for the students of Bangladesh? Shevchenko: During Soviet Union, there were some special programmes for inviting foreign students from developing countries and newly independent countries. Now, economic condition is not in that shape so that they can offer free scholarship for the students. But, you should always take into account that education in Ukraine since Soviet times; we managed to preserve it on high level in accordance of quality and high standards. In comparison with the some European countries, education in Ukraine is not expensive and it is attractive for the students. Lot of investment gives into education in the spheres of medicine, engineering, aeronautics and nuclear engineering. Education in Ukraine is attractive, effective and its standard remains high. Daily Sun: What is the medium of education? Shevchenko: The medium of education is English for foreign students which faculties they enrolled. Daily Sun: You already mentioned about our export items like apparel, textile. Would you please give us some figure on what volume of market we can penetrate in Ukraine? Shevchenko: Even in spite of political development of the east, crisis and conflict situation in Crimea, we managed to increase our bilateral trade. For the first nine moths of 2015, we have $187 million trades and believe that we will cross the level of $200 million. So it is growing compared to the previous period. I already mentioned, we agreed on supplying wheat, grain, edible oil, powder milk and some other products which are in demand. From Bangladesh, as I said garments, textile, tobacco, sea foods and leather products are exported to Ukraine. At present the volume is small but, I think there is an opportunity. Some Bangladeshi businessman who established themselves there, are planning to open Bangladeshi trade houses, showrooms and goods which can be supplied to Ukraine. Daily Sun: What is the current status of relation between Bangladesh and Ukraine? Shevchenko: We are not satisfied as well as you are. I discussed it with Bangladesh Food Minister Qamrul Islam, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Food Abdul Wadud. Bangladesh is growing very fast. GDP growth rate now reaches 7 and the country is trying to touch 8 percent rate even reaching a double-digit growth. In many areas, you need technologies. Though currently we cannot provide investment, we can invest with our technologies, specialties, expertise in the relevant areas. In terms of infrastructure, construction works, some projects such as power and energy generating, we can share acquaintance which is reliable. Daily Sun: We have heard that Ukraine is going to reach free trade agreement with EU soon. Is Bangladesh has the scope for duty-free access to your country. Would you elaborate it? Shevchenko: Yes. We are in dialogue with EU since we have signed association agreement. One of the important aspects of the agreement is ‘Ukraine should undertake radical reforms in all sphere of its life to bring itself to the European standard’. Most important is that Ukrainian will be given a visa free regime. EU records say that Ukraine fulfilled its commitment to meeting the requirement to enjoy visa free regime for the next three months which is very positive. We are working with EU for establishing free trade zone. We are very optimistic about it. This agreement will be signed and free trade zone will be established. Taking into account Bangladesh’s special arrangement with the EU in terms of export of textile, I can say this will also help our bilateral trade and simplify the procedure. We have been following the procedure in registering import from Bangladesh directly as you know that Bangladeshi goods are coming through European countries, meaning indirectly to Ukraine. Daily Sun: Besides textiles, agriculture and garments, Bangladesh is trying to get market abroad in light engineering. Do you see prospect? Shevchenko: I visited couple of local manufacturing companies like Walton. They are quite impressive. They are producing fridge, motorcycle and other products. Daily Sun: Bangladesh has favourable foreign investment policy. I think your entrepreneurs are coming to Bangladesh. We just want to know your experience in this regard. Shevchenko: We are not in that economic shape of investment. But, some Ukrainian companies are working in Bangladesh. The volume is still not that much. Daily Sun: What about the bilateral agreement with Bangladesh? Shevchenko: Still we have only one agreement. This one is trade and economic cooperation. I think this is a framework agreement in addition to protocol of diplomatic recognition each other. I raised the issue also with state minister for foreign affairs. Two draft agreements have been tabled on mutual protection of investment and Avoidance of double taxation. We should finalise it soon and sign. This will be an additional signal to business community. Daily Sun: How many countries do you have FDI, especially in Asia? Shevchenko: We don’t have in Asian countries. Still this issues to be considered on our relevant agencies. Daily Sun: Would you please have few words about the culture and people of Ukraine? Shevchenko: It is very much pleasant and easy for any ambassador to talk about his country’s culture, tradition and heritage. We of course have great culture, heritage, cultural tradition and festivals. The festivals have been attended by tourists from foreign countries. Bangladesh as well as Ukraine had huge heritage and we have lots in common. I visited Sonargaon crafts villa which is beautiful. Daily Sun: What do you think about the exchange of media people? Shevchenko: We are open. We have a lot to tell the international community and we are telling what is going on in Ukraine. We will welcome Bangladeshi media in Ukraine. They can cover the issues what they like to cover. Daily Sun: Bashundhara Group chairman is representing your country in Bangladesh. What’s your view? Shevchenko: Yes, Bashundhara Group is very helpful to the Ukraine embassy. In particular, I enjoyed his (Bashundhara Group Chairman) personal support in fulfilling my mission as the Ukraine ambassador in Bangladesh. Daily Sun: Thank you very much. Shevchenko: Thank you too.
