The Gambia and Bangladesh have agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in trade, commerce, ICT, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and other key sectors.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam and The Gambia’s Non-Resident High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Mustapha Jawara, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka.

The meeting reaffirmed the longstanding relations between the two countries, with both sides expressing interest in expanding economic and people-to-people ties.

The Bangladeshi state minister called for greater cooperation in trade, ICT, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, jute and jute products, light engineering and shipbuilding.

She also proposed exchanges of high-level business delegations to increase bilateral trade and investment.

The Gambian envoy welcomed the cooperation and praised Bangladeshi ICT experts for their contribution to the development of digital public service infrastructure in The Gambia.

Jawara also called for the early conclusion of an agreement on political consultations between the two countries.

The meeting also highlighted cooperation between The Gambia and Bangladesh at international forums, including the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Commonwealth and Non-Aligned Movement.

Bangladesh also commended The Gambia for filing and pursuing a genocide case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice on behalf of the OIC, saying a successful outcome could help boost the confidence of Rohingya refugees to voluntarily return to Myanmar.