Deals on trade, investment likely to be signed as S Korea's PM due today

Bangladesh and South Korea want to bring a momentum in their relations through greater engagements on trade and investment fronts during South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon's three-day official visit that begins today (Saturday).

A number of bilateral instruments on trade, investment and cultural fronts are likely to be signed during the visit to strengthen the bilateral relations, an official said.

Bangladesh will be Lee's first destination during his four-nation tour from July 13-21 that is aimed at strengthening Seoul's ties with Central Asia and Southwest Asia with a balanced diplomacy in the Middle East.

He will visit Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Qatar after visiting Bangladesh.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bangladesh Investment Development Authority and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) and a document on cultural exchange programme between Bangladesh and South Korea for the years 2019-2023 are likely to be signed, an official told the news agencies.

Another MoU on cooperation between the Korea National Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, South Korea and the Foreign Service Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bangladesh is also on the table to sign, said the official.

The Korean Prime Minister will hold official talks with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Sunday afternoon, and they are likely to discuss ways of cooperation in the areas of security, trade and investment, people-to-people and cultural exchanges.

Both the Prime Ministers will witness the signing of bilateral documents after the talks. Prior to that, they will have a tete-a-tete, UNB reports.

The South Korean Prime Minister will meet President Abdul Hamid on Sunday evening at Bangabhaban.

He will deliver the keynote speech at Bangladesh-Korea Business Forum to be jointly organised by the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) and Korea International Trade Association (KITA) at a city hotel on Sunday.

In the beginning of his visit, the South Korean Prime Minister will pay tributes to the memories of Liberation War martyrs by placing wreaths at the National Martyrs' Memorial in Savar on Sunday morning.

He will also visit YoungoneHitech Sportswear in Savar EPZ and the National Institute of Advanced Nursing Education and Research at Mugdapara in the city.

On Sunday evening, the South Korean Prime Minister will join a banquet to be hosted by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Hotel Pan Pacific Sonogram.

On Monday, he will pay homage to the memories of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing wreaths on his portrait at Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi in the city. Lee will sign visitors' book there after visiting the museum.

The South Korean Prime Minister is scheduled to leave Dhaka at 11am on Monday by a special flight.

Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen will see the Korean Prime Minister at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.