Dhaka: As consecutive chairs of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD), Bangladesh and Germany are working together to chart a common roadmap for the upcoming GFMD Summit to be held here in December.

‘Germany will take over as Chair from Bangladesh,’ said Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali while addressing a function in the city on Monday night.

He said Bangladesh is also happy joining the ‘Platform on Disaster Displacement’ as the Vice Chair, where Germany is leading the forum as its active Chair.

The Foreign Minister said he will visit Germany later in the week to hold official consultations with German Foreign Minister Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Minister Ali was addressing a reception marking the National Day of Federal Republic of Germany (Day of German Unity).

German Ambassador in Dhaka Dr Thomas Heinrich Prinz, Ambassadors/High Commissioners and members of the Diplomatic Corps, Civil Society, private sector and journalists were present.

The Foreign Minister said Bangladesh and Germany have historic relations, rooted in shared values of democracy and development cooperation as well as trade and investment. ‘Germany is the second largest destination for Bangladesh export worldwide.’

The export from Bangladesh to US was USD 6.22 billion and to Germany was USD 4.98 billion in FY 2015-16. More than 80% of the export is RMG. Others are leather goods, footwear and frozen foods (including shrimp.

As Bangladesh entered shipbuilding arena, its first export destination was Germany where Ananda Shipyard was able to produce and export two ships and Western Marine Shipyard has been able to produce and export 8 ocean-going multi-purpose container vessels to Germany, Minister Ali said.

He said German multinationals are already engaged in the development of critical infrastructure in Bangladesh, particularly in climate change, power and energy sectors and renewable energy.

‘As new opportunities arise, both at national and regional level, enhanced cooperation and collaboration between Bangladesh and German companies further strengthen our relations,’ he added.

The Foreign Minister said the two countries, in today’s complex world, share similar views on many pressing global challenges, including climate change, women empowerment, and clean energy.

‘The adoption of the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), provides us a unique opportunity to build new partnership to towards a better future for our people,’ he said.

Dr Steinmeier together with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius made a joint visit to Bangladesh in September 2015, when Minister Mahmood Ali also joined the German and French Foreign Ministers in inaugurating their joint Embassy building in Dhaka.