Yunus calls Argentina to build ‘footballing ties’ to boost cooperation

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today urged Argentina to build on the emotional “footballing ties” that Bangladesh has with the country to increase bilateral cooperation in different fields, including trade.

He made the call when Argentine Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcelo Cesa called on him at his office in State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka, said the chief adviser’s press wing.

Noting Bangladeshi people’s overwhelming support for Argentina football team, the Nobel Laureate said, “We have the emotional connection. We can build on that. The ground is ready. We can take it to other fields.”

According to the CA press wing, the chief adviser also told the ambassador to look for the opportunity of setting up ventures on full ownership or joint venture for cotton related trade and investment with Bangladesh and explore potential for energy cooperation.

Ambassador Cesa told Yunus that Argentina and Bangladesh have many areas of cooperation unexplored, which can hold tremendous potential for the two countries. He also requested to consider opening the Embassy of Bangladesh in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

“The good feeling that we have, we can make good use of it for the benefit of two countries,” he said.

The ambassador noted that Argentina currently has nearly $700 million of trade now in their favour and that they want to make it balanced by increasing imports from Bangladesh.

Argentina currently exports soybeans, wheat, corn, and raw cotton, among other items, to Bangladesh and imports some garment items from the country amounting to around $22 million annually.

He emphasised to work closely on issues relating to cotton, joint investment, pharmaceuticals, textile, football cooperation (including female), microcredit, trade delegation, LNG, and rice disease, the press wing added.

Ambassador Cesa applauded Bangladesh’s commitment to the prevention of enforced disappearance by signing on August 29, 2024, the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (ICPPED) that Argentina actively pursued for adoption.

He also sought Bangladesh’s cooperation for introducing microfinance in Argentina.

Lamiya Morshed, principal coordinator (SDG Affairs), and officials of the Chief Adviser’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were also present on the occasion.