TBM Report ||
Indonesian Ambassador to Bangladesh Listyowati held a courtesy meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir at his ministry office on Wednesday, September 9.
The discussions covered key areas of mutual interest, focusing on trade expansion, energy sector investment, disaster management, education, capacity building, tourism, and diplomatic exchanges. Both representatives highlighted the need for sustained cooperation on regional and global platforms.
State Minister Kobir urged Indonesia to boost imports of Bangladeshi goods and services to balance bilateral trade. He reaffirmed Dhaka’s readiness to upgrade trade relations into a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
To enhance people-to-people connectivity, cultural ties, and tourism, the State Minister requested Indonesia to streamline its visa application procedures for Bangladeshi nationals. Ambassador Listyowati supported Bangladesh’s drive to expand exports to Indonesia, specifically mentioning pharmaceuticals.
Acknowledging mutual vulnerabilities to natural hazards, State Minister Kobir proposed deeper ties in disaster response. Ambassador Listyowati backed the initiative, stressing the importance of sharing best practices, knowledge exchange, and technical capacity-building to minimize disaster risks.
The State Minister also requested Indonesia’s diplomatic support for Bangladesh’s bids to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN and join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). Ambassador Listyowati assured Bangladesh of Indonesia’s continued backing for both regional initiatives.
