BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Korean Embassy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) jointly organised a Seminar on Strengthening Strategic Partnerships between Bangladesh and Korea on Sunday, 23rd June 2013, at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel, Dhaka. Dr. Dipu Moni MP, Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs was present at the Seminar as the Chief Guest. Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad, Chairman, Board of Governors, BIISS, chaired the inaugural session of the Seminar. Major General Sajjadul Haque, afwc, psc, Director General of BIISS, delivered the Address of Welcome and H.E. Lee Yun Young ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Bangladesh, delivered the opening remarks in the inaugural session of the seminar. H. E. Dr. Gowher Rizvi, Advisor to the Prime Minister, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, was present as the Special Guest. Foreign Secretary Md. Shahidul Haque delivered the closing remarks to the daylong seminar.

Scholars, members of academia and policy makers from Bangladesh and Korea participated in the seminar. The joint seminar has been divided into five working sessions including the opening and concluding sessions. 6 papers in total were presented in the seminar on various aspects of Bangladesh-Korea relations. The paper presenters were: Dr. Hyun-woo kim, Director-General for Department of American Studies, Korean National Diplomatic Academy, Republic of Korea; Mr. Nazmul Arefin, Research Officer from BIISS on behalf of Dr. Mahfuz Kabir, Senior Research Fellow of BIISS; Professor Inkyo Cheong, Inha University; Mr. Towfiqul Islam Khan, Research Fellow from Centre for Policy Dialogue; Mr. Choongjae Cho, Head of South Asia Team, Korea Institute for International Economic Policy and Mr. Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, President, FBCCI.

In his Welcome Address the Director General told that the relationship between the two countries is marked by warmth, close friendship and good understanding of each other's positions. The two countries are closely cooperating in the fields of trade, investment, sharing of skill, development cooperation, technology transfer, education, training, employment, human resource development, cultural exchange and through people to people contact. He also added that trade between the two countries is increasing at a phenomenal rate and Korea has reportedly invested in various sectors like ready-made garments, textiles, tanneries and shoe factories of Bangladesh.

Dr. Dipu Moni, Foreign Minister noted that Korea is one of the leading countries of human rights, democracy and trade and Korea is the 13th largest economy of the world. Bangladesh and Korea cooperate in various areas like the environment and culture. Korea receives a large number of Bangladeshi manpower and Korea contributes tremendously in the RMG sector of Bangladesh. She also added that Bangladesh can learn a lot from Korea through people to people communication, comprehensive partnerships can be extended on the areas like free trade and climate change issues. The visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Korea on 2010 signifies that Bangladesh gives immense value of Bangladesh Korea relationship. Honourable minister also recognized Korean government's assistance to e-governance and green climate fund.

The Ambassador of Korea H.E. Lee Yun-young opined that Bangladesh and Korea maintain a very friendly relation which is signified by the commemoration of 40th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. The Classical Concert of last January, the Art Exhibition of last February and the Charm of Korea festival of last month stimulated the emotional Quotient in celebrating the 40th anniversary. Mr. Lee also noted that Korean people feel proud that the two countries have gone hand in hand for a long time while the economic cooperation encompasses a variety of projects from infrastructure, solar power system, education and public health, capacity building to IT such as e-Government system. He also commented that Bangladesh and Korea are enjoying excellent cooperation in the international arena including in the UN, and in climate change and security, more than ever before.

In his Chairman's remarks Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmad noted that Korea's development assistance have contributed significantly to the growth of many industries including RMG's, textiles and tannery industries. Korean unilateral offer of duty and quota free access for many Bangladeshi commodities helped to increase Bangladeshi exports to Korea in recent years, was also highly praised by him. He opined that despite the existing good level of understanding and relationships, there is a huge scope for further strengthening bilateral cooperation and partnership in many issues of common interests.

Participants in the conference, therefore, emphasized the importance of deeper bilateral relation between the two nations to face the challenges towards road to development. The South Korean experience of economic development can help Bangladesh grow and to achieve the desired economic destination. The participants also opined that more investments from South Korea can come within the infrastructure and power generation sectors to aid the faster growth of Bangladesh's economy. Bangladesh is one of the highest FDI recipient country from Korea and the FDI flow largely remain in the textiles and Banking sectors of Bangladesh. RoK invests in the EPZs, RMG sectors and infrastructure development sectors of Bangladesh. Different speakers of the seminar noted that Bangladesh can increase the manpower export to Korea through people to people contact and successful diplomatic negotiations.