26 November 2018, Dhaka 

“We need to translate our diplomatic success in maritime delimitation into the major source of our resources and contributor to our economic development” said theForeign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, MP while delivering his Statement as the Chief Guest at the Workshop titled ‘Blue Economy and EU Horizon 2020’ held at a local Hotel in Dhaka on 25 November 2018. The Workshop was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh and was attended by over 100 participants. 

The Foreign Minister emphasized research on Blue Economy as a pre-requisite for exploring the untapped potentials of Bangladesh. He mentioned that a quality research can complement government’s strategy and can be the threshold for a new policy. He asked more participation from the academicians, researchers and scholars in the EU Horizon 2020 to build a knowledge-based for the exploration of marine resources. He also urged all stakeholders to invest in knowledge, develop skills in marine sector, and encourage innovation and business related to it.

Ms. Rensje Teerink, Ambassador of the European Union to Bangladesh, in her remarks underscored the EU’s priority in marine and maritime research to create more growth and jobs and therefore, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. She requested the Government of Bangladesh to make Research and Development a priority. She informed that EU follows open science policy which is a reflection of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s call for ‘Science Diplomacy’ in Vienna on 30 May 2017 at the 60^thanniversary of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). She also mentioned that Horizon 2020 offers immense opportunities for Bangladeshi researchers to participate in research projects on blue economy topics and contribute to the implementation of Bangladesh’s maritime vision.