On 16 August 2020, the Bangladesh Ambassador designated to Uzbekistan, Mr. Zahangir Alam held a meeting with the Advisor to Uztextileprom (Uzbekistan Textile Association/ Ministry) and President of Bangladesh RMG Centre, Mr. Mehdi Mahbub at Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka. They had threadbare discussions to identify collaboration scopes between Bangladesh and Uzbekistan.
An incumbent Additional Secretary at Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Zahangir Alam is appointed recently as the Ambassador to Uzbekistan, to be based in Tashkent with accreditation to Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan.
On his personal behalf as well as on behalf of Uztextileprom Chairman Mr Ilkhom Khaydarov and Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Bangladesh and India, H.E. Dilshod Akhatov, Mehdi Mahbub congratulated H.E. Zahangir Alam and assured all sort of cooperation to strengthen relationship between two brotherly and friendly Muslim countries.
Bangladesh is world’s 2nd largest Readymade Garment (RMG) exporter, even though it has negligible amount of cotton production. On the other hand, Uzbekistan is world’s 5th largest cotton producing country with a nominal apparel export. 44% of Uzbek export is directed to Russia which has great potentials for Bangladesh but still couldn’t be explored as per its possibilities. CIS (former Soviet Republics) also have good potentials for Bangladesh. It is underscored that if Bangladesh and Uzbekistan work together, assist each other’s industries & services, both countries’ economy would be benefitted immensely.
Bangladesh has the potentials to contribute development of Uzbekistan’s Human Resources, specially in the fields of Garment, Textile, Agriculture, Education, Leather, Food & Fruit Processing, Management Training etc. Mehdi Mahbub who himself is a renowned business professional with more than 25 years’ experience and closely observed Uzbekistan’s growth potentials, have emphasized that Govt2Govt as well as both countries’ private sectors should explore these opportunities by setting up Joint Ventures as well as FDIs both in Uzbekistan and Bangladesh. Zahangir Alam kindly assured to consider exploring these opportunities by utilizing government channels.
Both Bangladesh and Uzbekistan have common religious, culinary and historical bondage, thanks to Islam and Mughal Empire. Art and Culture also have strong relationship, bridging between Uzbekistan and Bangladesh. Imam Bukhari, Ibne Sina, Babur do have special impact on Bangladeshis mindsets. Great Warrior Timur has a very special place in every Uzbek’s mind, the way Bangladesh’s Father of The Nation, Bangabandhu won the highest position in Bangladesh society. Uzbek’s national cuisine pilaf is also a very popular cuisine in Bangladesh, being called as polao! It is discussed that if appropriate initiatives are taken, both countries’ relationships would be strengthened further which would help both Uzbekistan and Bangladesh, economically and socially.
Uzbekistan is located at the centre of central Asia, with convenient connections to Middle East, Russia and Europe. Both countries’ national airlines could explore opportunity to connect each other’s capitals and thus help a large number of passengers and cargo to be connected, transported globally. Bangladesh Biman can touch down Tashkent on the way to its flight to London, Manchester; even Biman’s flights to Middle East can be re-routed little to accommodate stoppage in Tashkent. Mehdi Mahbub who has created www.uzbangla.com as a bridge between Uzbekistan and Bangladesh, pointed out that requested Ambassador Zahangir to discuss with Uzbekistan government and explore this opportunity which would strengthen people to people connectivity.
Collaboration in Tourism between Uzbekistan and Bangladesh is imperative considering the fact that Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara do have great touristic attractions and Bangladeshis are becoming one of the fastest growing global tourists. Uzbek tourists also might visit Bangladesh to experience world’s longest sea beach, largest mangrove forest and natural attractions of “Beautiful Bangladesh”.
Bangladesh has received world’s accolade and appreciation because of its success in GDP growth as well as improvements in HDI, thanks to immunization, literacy & nutrition campaign, child mortality etc in addition to tremendous growth in food & fish production, digitalization/ IT, technical skill development, SME & service sector growth etc. Uzbekistan can learn these success stories working with government as well as private sectors/ NGOs from Bangladesh.
It is also underscored that Bangladesh has potentials to export medicine, leather products, tea, jute products, garments etc to Uzbekistan and its neighboring countries. Uzbek industries also can explore Bangladesh, specially in the areas of textile products. Using Uzbek raw materials (cotton, yarn, fruits etc), Uzbek companies can establish factories in Bangladesh’s EPZs (Export Processing Zones) and SEZs (Special Economic Zones) which can be exported to world markets.
The meeting was concluded with a understanding that both would work together in their respective capacities to explore untapped opportunities as well as strengthen trade and economic relationship between Uzbekistan and Bangladesh.
