Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen has called upon the ambassadors of Bangladesh to Europe to preserve the existing market of the readymade garment industry as well as to explore new markets to continue the trend of export earnings in the pandemic.

The foreign ministry on Tuesday said the minister made the call during a virtual meeting with the Bangladesh envoys from the UK, Italy, France, Sweden, Belgium, Greece, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Dr Momen also directed the envoys to find out opportunities for Bangladeshi workers in new destinations in Europe.
Pandemic has hit both export earnings and remittance flow –mainstays of Bangladesh’s economy.

The foreign minister earlier wrote to his counterparts in different countries to help Bangladeshi workers during this time of crisis.
During the interaction, he suggested the envoys to disseminate information about the government’s initiatives including a stimulus package to overcome the economic fallout due to the pandemic among the government and Bangladeshi expatriates in their respective host countries.

He urged them to remain vigilant about negative campaigns against Bangladesh in their host countries.
Dr Momen said Bangladesh has been able to keep its economy afloat along with ensuring healthcare for COVID-19 patients due to farsighted leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He said the government has declared a $12.11 billion stimulus package to recover the national economy wrecked by the pandemic while the country's nearly five crore people received cash support.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen and President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Dr Rubana Huq also attended the meeting.