Bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Russia reached almost US$1.0 billion in 2015 on a growth crescendo, while huge prospects have yet to be tapped, said the Russian envoy. Ambassador Alexander A. Nikolaev expressed the views at a meet with diplomatic correspondents in Dhaka Sunday, where he talked about entire gamut of bilateral cooperation and current international affairs of common interest. The recently-floated Saudi military alliance also came up. The envoy expects greater economic cooperation and the bilateral trade to get on a higher trajectory far beyond the current level. “The Russia-Bangladesh trade relations show constant growth despite the ongoing global economic turbulence,” said the outgoing ambassador at the ‘DCAB Talk’. He pointed out that Bangladesh products are now hugely opening on the Russian market, stressing the need for more cooperation between the two countries, especially in fields of trade, business and investment. “Currently we are cooperating in many fields and feel that we can broaden our sphere of cooperation,” said Mr Nikolaev, listing a plethora of prospects. He mentioned that many Bangladeshi products, especially readymade garments, frozen foods like shrimp and prawn, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, jute and jute goods have a bright prospect in Russia. Much brighter perspectives for bilateral trade will be achieved by forming a Joint Commission on Trade, Economic and Science-Technologic Cooperation and the signing of intergovernmental agreements on Joint Commission and Trade Representation. The renewal of activity of Trade Section of the Embassy is expected to be approved soon, the ambassador told the correspondents covering diplomatic beat. Bangladesh’s exports to Russia stood at $294 million in the last fiscal (2014-15). Bangladesh exports frozen foods, jute and jute products, tea, leather, home textiles and ceramic products to Russia while imports cereals, minerals and chemical products, plastic products, metal, machinery and mechanical equipment from Russia. Both the countries, the ambassador said, have been exchanging letters on expansion of Russia-Bangladesh trade and economic ties. “Both of the countries underscored the necessity to boost further bilateral cooperation and, reached a consensus to sign shortly the Visa Waiver Agreement, stressed the great need to launch Russia-Bangladesh Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic and Science-Technologic Cooperation,” said the outgoing ambassador. The envoy, who will leave Dhaka on March 10 at the end of his four-year tenure, exchanged views with members of DCAB on various national and international issues, including Bangladesh’s joining the Saudi Arabia-led military alliance to combat terrorism and its impact after the recent joint statement of the US and the Russia on cessation of hostilities in Syria. Bangladesh’s joining the Saudi Arabia-led military alliance to combat terrorism “initially astonished” Russia, he told the meet. But, Moscow is not worried over the present activity of the military coalition now. He said Bangladesh’s foreign ministry had assured Moscow many times that the country’s troops would be deployed following UN Security Council resolutions. This coalition also loses significance after the recent joint statement of the US and Russia on cessation of hostilities in Syria. “I’m leaving the Golden Bangla with great sense of satisfaction of well-done job. Russia became one of the most significant investors to Bangladesh in the sphere of energy – the crucial factor of sustainable development,” said the departing ambassador. DCAB President Angur Nahar Monty and General Secretary Pantho Rahman conducted the discussion at the National Press Club. Mr Nikolaev said Russia substantially contributes to the development of energy and power sector of Bangladesh. The first-ever NPP “Rooppur” is being constructed in Bangladesh which he said marks the beginning of a qualitatively new stage in the Russian-Bengali relations. A nuclear power plant’s entry to a country unfailingly entails energy independence, surge of the science, and local business development, he added. In April 2012 Russian company “Gazprom EP International” and Bangladesh Oil & Gas Corporation “Petrobangla” struck deals for the drilling of 10 gas wells. The contracts were fulfilled in November 2014 and Bangladeshi gas-transport system started to receive more than 5.1 mln cubic metres of gas per day (8% of over-all gas production in the country). In July 2015, the Government of Bangladesh gave the nod to Bangladesh Petroleum Exploration and Production Company (BAPEX) to sign a new contract with “Gazprom EP Int’l” for drilling five more wells. The works have been started, said the ambassador. Bangladesh as a fast-developing nation needs to have a lot of high-quality specialists in various spheres, he said, adding that the Russian government has been inviting Bangladeshi students to file their application for scholarships in Russian universities and provides opportunities for them to be educated in Russia on self-finance basis. In 2015, the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation allocated 50 full-paid scholarships for students from Bangladesh and opened the Internet site www.russia.edu.ru where everyone can get the necessary information about the requirements and procedures to apply.
