Bangladesh, Indonesia discuss visa-on-arrival facilities, direct flights

Dhaka: Bangladesh has urged Indonesia to restore the visa-on-arrival facility for Bangladeshi nationals as part of a set of proposals aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.

The proposal was made by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir during a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Anis Matta at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the capital on October 6, according to a press release.

Kobir placed five specific proposals to deepen relations between Bangladesh and Indonesia, with the restoration of visa-on-arrival for Bangladeshi travelers in Indonesia among them.

The proposal comes alongside Bangladesh’s push to enhance people-to-people connectivity, trade, and tourism between the two countries.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, including trade and investment, energy, health, disaster management, education and training, and consular cooperation.

The Indonesian vice minister also encouraged Bangladesh and Indonesia to explore the possibility of establishing direct flights between Dhaka and Jakarta to improve connectivity between the two countries.

Apart from visa-on-arrival, Bangladesh proposed that Indonesia increase imports of Bangladeshi pharmaceutical products to meet its growing demand.

Dhaka also sought a government-to-government arrangement for Indonesia to procure jute bags from Bangladesh for eco-friendly packaging of coffee beans and other products. Bangladesh further proposed opening the Indonesian market to Bangladeshi potatoes.

Bangladesh also proposed institutional cooperation in disaster management and handed over a draft memorandum of understanding on the issue to the Indonesian vice minister.

Highlighting Indonesia’s position as the world’s largest halal food consumer market, Kobir called for stronger cooperation in the halal sector.

He also urged Indonesia to support efforts to elevate bilateral relations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

In response, Matta welcomed Bangladesh’s proposals and expressed Indonesia’s interest in upgrading bilateral relations to a long-term strategic partnership. He proposed undertaking priority joint projects over the next five to 10 years to achieve that goal.

The Indonesian vice minister is visiting Bangladesh from October 5 to 9 at the invitation of State Minister Kobir.