Bangladesh and Morocco have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, skills development and multilateral affairs.
The agreement was reached in a meeting between State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam and Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat on Tuesday, said a Foreign Ministry’s press release here.
“Under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, Bangladesh is keen to deepen its engagement with African nations and elevate its partnership with Morocco to a new horizon of cooperation, shared prosperity and strategic opportunity,” Shama Obaed told the Moroccan foreign minister.
The two leaders stressed the importance of sustained high-level exchanges in strengthening political relations between the two countries.
During the meeting, the state minister recalled the historic visit of Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman to Morocco in 1980 and appreciated Morocco’s gesture of naming an avenue in Rabat after him.
Both sides reaffirmed commitment to expanding cooperation in trade and investment, textiles, pharmaceuticals, ceramics, sports, culture, agriculture, education, women’s empowerment, shipbuilding and people-to-people connectivity alongside enhanced multilateral collaboration.
They also agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in Dhaka at the earliest opportunity to review ongoing cooperation and identify new areas of mutual interest.
Shama Obaed extended an invitation to Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.
Later, the state minister held a bilateral meeting with Morocco’s Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour and proposed the exchange of business delegations to boost commercial engagement between the two countries.
In response, the Moroccan minister expressed interest in sending a business delegation to Bangladesh by the end of 2026.
Highlighting existing agricultural cooperation, the state minister called for stronger government-to-government collaboration to ensure a more reliable phosphate supply chain to support Bangladesh’s agricultural development and food security.
She also reiterated Bangladesh’s interest in promoting eco-friendly jute and jute goods in the Moroccan market.
The two sides pledged deeper cooperation in innovation, industrial training, information and communication technology and artificial intelligence, while also discussing prospects for a Free Trade Agreement to strengthen bilateral trade.
On the same day, Shama Obaed met Morocco’s Minister of Economic Inclusion, Small Business, Employment and Skills Younes Sekkouri.
During the meeting, she briefed him on Bangladesh government initiatives, including the “Family Card” and “Farmers’ Card” programmes and canal re-excavation projects.
The two leaders explored opportunities for cooperation in employment generation, vocational training, skills development, women and youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and the growth of small and medium enterprises.
They stressed the importance of closer collaboration through knowledge-sharing, technical exchanges and institutional partnerships.
Bangladesh Ambassador to Morocco Sadia Faizunnesa and Foreign Ministry Director General (Africa) Abdur Rouf Mondol accompanied the state minister during the meetings.
Shama Obaed is currently visiting Morocco to attend the Second Ministerial Conference on Peacekeeping in a Francophone Environment, scheduled to be held in Rabat today.
