His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah

KUWAIT: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah is set to travel today to Bangladesh, the first leg on an Asian tour that will also take him to Japan, South Korea and Vietnam. Kuwait and these four Asian nations maintain close ties in all fields thanks to the frequent visit exchanges on all levels. In its quest for sustainable economic development, the State of Kuwait seeks to benefit from the successful experiences of highly developed economies in Southeast Asia.

The agenda of His Highness the Prime Minister's official visit to Bangladesh includes political, economic, investment and educational issues. The bilateral relations, based on reciprocity and mutual support, have grown steadily since the two countries established diplomatic ties in early 1970s.

Bangladesh stood by Kuwait during the latter's liberation war from the Iraqi invasion in 1991 and contributed a military unit to the international campaign Operation Desert Shield. In May, 1991, then prime minister of Bangladesh Khaleda Zia paid an official visit to Kuwait to show solidarity with the country following its liberation.

Bangladesh also contributed peace-keeping forces to the UN Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) deployed along the borderlines between the two countries after the war. The defense cooperation between Kuwait and Bangladesh also made great strides after the two countries signed several deals in this field. A considerable number of Bangladeshi troops work at the Kuwaiti army in several logistic and other domains.

Economic cooperation

Similarly, the economic and commercial cooperation gained momentum based on the complementary resources of both economies and the shared desire to tap into the potentials of investment and trade relations. In 1995 the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) of Bangladesh held its first trade fair in Kuwait which gathered 15 Bangladeshi companies.

In 2011 the two countries signed a trade agreement which replaced the agreement of 1979. The bilateral trade volume grew from just $25 million before the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait to nearly $520 million in 2010, tilting generally in favor of Kuwait. While Bangladesh's exports of tea, vegetables, fruits, fish, clothes and leather were estimated at $5.8 million in 2010, its oil imports from Kuwait hit $513.6 million.

Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) plays a growing role in financing the development projects in Bangladesh and other friendly countries; it has signed recently an agreement to offer a $15 million loan for the Bangladeshi government to fund the Sikalbaha Gas Power Plant in the southeast coastal region of Chittagong which has a design capacity of 225 megawatts. In 2012 KFAED and Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, signed a loan agreement worth $14 million for financing the Lebukhali Bridge.

Regarding the cultural ties, the ministries of Awqaf and Islamic of both countries signed MoU to exchange experience. In 2015 Kuwait House of National Works inked a deal with the Bangladeshi government to organize joint exhibitions in both countries.

Special importance

Kuwaiti Ambassador to Bangladesh Adel Mohammad Hayat commented on His Highness the Prime Minister's visit to Bangladesh, saying that it is of special importance, thanks to the deep-rooted ties between the two nations.

He added that this visit comes upon an official invitation from the Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed. The two top officials will tackle during the visit issues of common interest and means of boosting bilateral cooperation in various fields, he added.

His Highness the Prime Minister will also be meeting Bangladeshi President Mohammad Abdul Hamid, and Prime Minister Wazed. Both sides will sign a number of cooperation agreements, he said. He will also visit the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar and Museum of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, he said.

Bangladeshi-Kuwaiti relations witnessed remarkable developments since the establishment of Bangladesh in 1971 as Kuwait was one of the first nations which recognized the new state, he mentioned.

Remarkable position

Bangladesh has a remarkable position in condemning the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait back in 1990, and its national forces took part along with the international coalition to liberate Kuwait, he said. Bangladesh also has a firm stance in voting in favor of all the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions supporting Kuwait during the Iraqi invasion, when it had a membership in the Security council in 2001-2002, he added. The Bangladeshi soldiers also participated in the demining operations following Kuwait's Liberation, he said.

Kuwait is a distinguished trade partner with Bangladesh as the latter imports large quantities of Kuwaiti oil, while a total of 200,000 Bangladeshis work in Kuwait, besides 4,000 Bangladeshi personnel work in the Kuwaiti Army as a back-up force.

Kuwait contributes to the development of Bangladesh and construction of the state's infrastructure through the loans offered by Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED). One the other hand, Kuwaiti Joint Relief Committee (KJRC), and social and technological support institution are offering relief and humanitarian aid to poor people in Bangladesh, besides constructing mosques, schools, and orphanages. - KUNA