Italian Ambassador in Dhaka Enrico Nunziata has said his country is interested in a long-term agreement with Bangladesh to supply LNG though the current situation in Europe allows collaboration on a short term basis, reports UNB.
“Of course, we are much more interested in a long-term agreement. The situation in Europe is a bit changed now. For the time being only, it is a possibility of collaboration in the short term,” he told the news agency in an interview.
Enrico Nunziata said Italy wants to participate in energy sector cooperation and their company, ENI, is already shortlisted by Petrobangla for selling the LNG (liquefied natural gas) in private market.
“We have worked a lot on that in Italy. So we have already some other sources of supply that can substitute the supply that we use quite from Russia. So when this will be again at a certain level, of course, we can start to export LNG in other markets,” said the envoy.
Regarding Italy’s interest in offshore exploration, Nunziata said, “Yes, there are discussions but these are still at a level of proposal. We have to carry on with these discussions and see what will be the possibility there.”
He also said they are discussing a possible memorandum of understanding on mobility and migration, specially the content of this memorandum.
The envoy said the two countries have to deepen the cooperation for preventing and fighting against the irregular migration, trafficking and so on.
“We have issued more than 12,000 visas for work from 2021-2022. Then there is a family reunion, business, and so on. But I'm focusing now on work. This new flow will call then families and so on. So this will carry on,” he said.
There is a proposal on draft of a memorandum of understanding on security in general, the envoy said, noting the collaboration among the police forces of the two countries, he added.
Ambassador Nunziata said the relationship between Italy and Bangladesh are excellent and there are spaces for increasing the collaboration in some specific sectors.
“This relationship is solid and has shown resilience during these years.”
Traditionally, Italy has invested in the textile and garment sector but they are willing to provide expertise for the tannery sector, in particular for the sustainability of this industry and improve the quality of the treatment of leather to export to the European Union market.
On shipbuilding, the ambassador said they can build bigger ships for the defense or for the coastguard.
“I mean this know-how that Bangladesh doesn't have yet. Together we can do more on that in the shipbuilding as well as in other sectors,” said the envoy.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
