Dhaka set to launch Mission Africa

ANIS ALAMGIR

'Mission Africa,' the new initiative of the Bangladesh foreign ministry aimed at exploring four major areas in the second largest continent of the world, will set sail from August 23.
The mission seeks to tap the hitherto unexplored areas in manpower exports, sell the country's exportable goods, identify new areas of cooperation and investment in the second modest populous continent, a highly-placed ministry source said yesterday.
Formally named the 'Fact Finding Mission to Africa', the mission will be in two phases, with foreign secretary Mijarul Quayes leading a six- member team, comprising officials from the prime minister's office, ministries of commerce, overseas employment and expatriate welfare and foreign affairs.
The first explorers to Africa start their trip, visiting the African west coast nations of the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Senegal, Nigeria and Ghana from August 23 to September 2.
After Eid-ul-Fitr, the team will also visit some South African countries.

With Bangladesh's engagement with some African nations in connection with the peace-keeping and peace-building under the UN umbrella, Bangladesh has already made its presence strongly felt in the region.
The UN missions have also drawn the attention of the countries in the hitherto unknown continent, enhancing and strengthening bilateral, commercial, and economic relations with the countries, where our peace keepers are serving.
Meanwhile, the Armed Forces Division (AFD) has said that the governments of Congo, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Sudan and some other African countries have shown interest in strengthening bilateral and economic relations with Bangladesh, seeking in particular, cooperation and assistance from Dhaka.
The AFD has also identified some potential areas for bilateral cooperation, like exporting skilled and unskilled labour, business in the garments sector, pharmaceuticals, agricultural and agro-based industries, education and culture, telecommunication as well as investments in banking and financial institutions, such as leasing firms, insurance companies, etc.
The AFD has also proposed to convene an inter-ministerial meeting to explore and follow up cooperation in these areas.
The governments of African countries have also expressed similar views to the Bangladeshi contingents, who are deployed as UN peacekeepers for a long time.
Similar feelings were also conveyed to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the ministry of defence during its recent visit to Ivory Coast and Congo. The committee also pinpointed on export of manpower and Bangladeshi products, specially pharmaceuticals and ceramics, to the African countries.
Since independence, Bangladesh has been maintaining excellent bilateral relations with some African countries. Out of 56 countries of the continent, Bangladesh has missions only in Libya, Kenya, South Africa, Morocco and Egypt. Unfortunately Bangladesh doesn't have any mission in Middle and West Africa.
"The present government's policy for economic diplomacy focuses on Africa as a new destination for our manpower and exportable goods.
In line with this policy, we need to explore all possible ways for sustainable bilateral relations and tangible trade with the African nations for which we need to find out from the ground the possibilities of future cooperation with these countries," said Wahidur Rahman, director general of the African Wing of the ministry of foreign affairs (MOFA).
Talking to The Independent, Wahid, a member of 'Mission Africa' said: "Since we do not have any resident missions, bilateral relations with many African nations, including Congo, Liberia and Ivory Coast, are being looked after by our permanent mission to the UN in New York."

published on 4 august 2010, the Independent