The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Algeria is going to establish its embassy in Dhaka soon to further promote trade and economic cooperation between the two countries.

"The process is going on. We'll set up our embassy here as soon as possible to improve trade and economic cooperation," said Nadir Larbaoui, Algerian Ambassador to Bangladesh who is resident in Islamabad, in an interview with UNB at Sonargaon Hotel yesterday. The Ambassador said: "We're also going to renew all agreements in the fields of trade and commerce and planning to establish foreign office consultations."

He said a 20-member business delegation from Bangladesh visited Algeria last year to promote bilateral trade and investment.

Ambassador Larbaoui, who had meetings with Bangladeshi businesses and companies, said: "We're thinking to set up a business council of Bangladeshi and Algerian businessmen."

The present bilateral trade is insignificant and done through third country. Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products and medicines are mainly exported to Algeria.

Ambassador Larbaoui said that although based in Pakistan, he always made a point of coming to Dhaka to share with brotherly people of Bangladesh on the occasion of the Independence Day and express good wishes on behalf of Algerian President M Abdelaziz Bouteflika and the Algerian people.

Replying to a question, he said Algeria as a brotherly country is following with great interest political and economic developments in Bangladesh and praised the government efforts to promote democratic process and ensure stability, security and development of the country.