Bangladesh seeks Eswatini support on Rohingya repatriation, proposes jute and medicine exports at Antalya meeting

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam has called on Eswatini to increase imports of jute and jute products from Bangladesh. She also proposed that the country import medicines from Bangladesh to meet the needs of its health sector.

The state minister made the proposals at a meeting with Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini on the sidelines of the COP31 conference in Antalya, Turkey.

The information was disclosed in a press release issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday (13 November).

Presenting Bangladesh's climate priorities at the meeting, Shama Obaid said the government aims to generate 20 percent of the country's total electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 30 percent by 2040.

Praising Bangladesh's role in climate talks, the Eswatini prime minister said the two countries' priorities on climate issues are almost the same.

They also discussed continuing cooperation from COP31 through to COP32, to be held in the African country of Ethiopia.

At the meeting, Bangladesh's state minister presented jute as an environmentally friendly alternative to plastic. Praising the Eswatini government for banning single-use plastic bags, she said Bangladeshi jute and jute products could be used as an alternative to plastic.

Alongside the discussion, she invited the Eswatini prime minister to visit Bangladesh's jute pavilion.

Highlighting the environmentally friendly initiatives of Bangladesh's garment industry, Shama Obaid also called on Eswatini to import more sustainable and affordable clothing.

On health sector cooperation, she said Bangladesh's pharmaceutical industry exports quality and affordable medicines to more than 150 countries, and that Bangladesh is ready to cooperate in meeting the needs of Eswatini's health sector.

The meeting discussed increasing trade, investment, people-to-people contact and multilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The state minister also sought Eswatini's continued support for the speedy repatriation of Rohingya people displaced from Myanmar.

At the end of the meeting, Shama Obaid presented the Eswatini prime minister with a jacket made of jute fabric. Receiving the gift, he expressed satisfaction and praised Bangladesh's initiative to promote jute products.