DHAKA, Nov 24, 2024 (BSS) - Bangladesh today sought Belgium’s support through European Union (EU) to secure its bid for GSP+ benefits beyond 2029 and an additional six years of international support measures (ISM) to aid the country’s transition following its graduation from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category in 2026.

Dhaka sought Brussels support at the Second Round of Political Consultations between Bangladesh and Belgium held here today.

During the meeting, the Belgian delegation assured Bangladesh of giving due consideration to these requests, said a press release.

Ambassador Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam led the Bangladesh delegation while Jeroen Cooreman, Director General (Bilateral Affairs), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of Belgium led his country’s delegation at the meeting.

Non-resident Ambassador of Belgium to Bangladesh, Didier Vanderhasselt and representatives from different Ministries of the Government of Bangladesh also joined the Consultations.

The consultations began with discussions on the recent student-led mass uprising and the interim government’s priorities, including restoring law and order, economic stabilization, and systemic state reforms.
 
Dr. Islam expressed gratitude to Belgium for its willingness to engage with the interim government.

He also recalled Belgian Queen Mathilde’s visit to Bangladesh in February 2023, where she visited Rohingya camps, and appreciated Belgium’s continued support for resolving the Rohingya crisis.

In this context, the Bangladesh co-chair briefed Belgium on the Chief Adviser’s letter to the UN Secretary-General, urging an all-stakeholder meeting in early 2025 to address the issue.

Belgium highlighted its growing business interest in Bangladesh, noting that Belgian entrepreneurs view the country not only as an export market but also as a manufacturing hub.

Both sides expressed optimism about deepening cooperation in cancer research through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital (NICRH) in Bangladesh and the Bordet Cancer Institute in Belgium.

The discussions also emphasized joint efforts to improve human rights conditions, tackle the existential threat posed by climate change, and implement the loss and damage funding mechanism sustainably.

The talks further touched on global issues, including the Indo-Pacific, the war in Ukraine, and the humanitarian atrocities in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Both countries agreed to hold the third round of Bangladesh-Belgium political consultations in Brussels in 2025 at a mutually convenient date.