Bangladesh has proposed to Latvia to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two countries for bilateral cooperation in higher education, with particular focus on science and technology. Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni put forward the proposal during a meeting with Latvian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Andris Teikmanis in Riga on Monday, according to a Foreign Ministry press release.
During the meeting, they agreed to have regular interactions on bilateral, regional and international issues, trade and overall economic cooperation and facilitating consular interactions for Bangladeshi students’ access to the Latvian universities.
Dipu Moni and the Latvian Secretary also agreed that the opportunities for entry of Bangladeshi ready-made garment (RMG), pharmaceutical products and sea foods would be looked into.
During her stay in Riga, rectors of three leading universities of Lativia met the foreign minister.
They said that Bangladeshi students can obtain European recognised degrees in medicine, business administration, engineering and other disciplines of science and technology at much affordable cost and eventually enter European labour market.
The rectors also stated that the Latvian universities and some of the leading Bangladesh universities can form partnerships towards undertaking collaborative research, initiating joint degree programmes and institutional exchange programmes.
Dipu Moni also met the Latvian Minister for Agriculture Laimdota Straujuma, where the two sides agreed on having a MoU on overall cooperation in agriculture sector, with particular focus on livestock production, dairying, crop breeding, inland and marine fisheries.
The foreign minister apprised the minister of prospects of Bangladeshi frozen foods and handed over draft of a MoU for access of frozen foods into the Latvian market to which the Latvian side raised their support.
The Latvian minister also agreed to send a delegation of their businessmen to Bangladesh to tap into business opportunities, particularly agro-business. Foreign minister left Riga on Monday evening for Belarus.