CA Urges Argentina to Leverage Football Ties for Trade

Argentine Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcelo Cesa today called on Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus at his office in the State Guest House Jamuna, Dhaka. Photo: PID

The Chief Adviser made this call during a meeting with Argentine Ambassador to Bangladesh, Marcelo Cesa, at the State Guest House Jamuna in Dhaka.

Acknowledging the strong emotional bond Bangladesh shares with Argentina, especially in football, Professor Yunus emphasized the potential to expand this connection into other fields. "We already have a solid emotional foundation with Argentina. We can build on this to explore new opportunities in trade and other sectors," he stated.

He urged Ambassador Cesa to explore possibilities for establishing full ownership or joint ventures in the cotton industry and encouraged further exploration of energy cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador Cesa expressed optimism about untapped areas for bilateral collaboration. He highlighted the potential for growth in various sectors and proposed the idea of opening a Bangladeshi embassy in Buenos Aires to strengthen diplomatic ties. "The goodwill between our countries is palpable, and we should harness it for mutual benefit," he remarked.

The ambassador also discussed the current trade balance, which heavily favors Argentina, with the country exporting over US$ 700 million worth of goods to Bangladesh, including soybeans, wheat, corn, and raw cotton. However, he noted that Argentina aims to balance this trade by increasing imports from Bangladesh, particularly in the garment sector, which currently totals around US$ 22 million annually.

Ambassador Cesa emphasized the need for closer cooperation on issues such as cotton trade, joint investments, pharmaceuticals, textiles, women's football, microcredit, LNG, and rice disease management. He also praised Bangladesh's commitment to human rights, particularly its recent ratification of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances (ICPPED), a cause actively supported by Argentina.

Additionally, the ambassador sought Bangladesh’s assistance in introducing microfinance models in Argentina, drawing on the country's successful experiences in poverty alleviation.

The meeting was attended by Lamiya Morshed, Principal Coordinator (SDG Affairs), and senior officials from the Chief Adviser’s office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.