When answering questions from the media at a joint news conference in Moscow following talks with Foreign Minister of Bangladesh AK Abdul Momen, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, cited by the Foreign Ministry’s website, noted, “Last year, bilateral trade exceeded $1.628 bln, almost repeating the record numbers of 2017. We agreed to ensure the further expansion of our economic ties through the more active use of the Intergovernmental Russia-Bangladesh Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.”
According to the Minister, “Energy is generally recognized as the key area of our interaction. We reviewed the implementation of a major joint project for the construction of the first in Bangladesh Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Our energy cooperation is not limited to the nuclear industry. Gazprom and Inter RAO-Engineering have also displayed their interest, including on issues related to liquefied natural gas, creating power generating facilities in Bangladesh and developing new renewable energy sources, including solar energy and other sources. We also spoke about the significance of supplying Russian wheat and fertilizers to Bangladesh. Prospects in the field of information and communications technology are also good. A corresponding document is being prepared.”
“It is our shared opinion that we should encourage in every way direct contacts between our respective business communities,” he also said.