Nina P Cainglet, ambassador of the Philippines in Dhaka, has said the enhanced bilateral engagement between Bangladesh and the Philippines would contribute to regional peace, prosperity, and sustainable growth.

Nina made the call at a programme titled “Beyond Bilateral Ties: Unlocking New Avenues in Bangladesh-Philippines Cooperation” organised by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) at the BIISS Auditorium in Dhaka on Sunday.

In her remarks, the ambassador emphasised shared values, development priorities, and the potential for greater collaboration in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and education.

Major General Iftekhar Anis,  director general of BIISS, delivered the welcome address, and Prof Delwar Hossain, Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka, set the tone of the programme.

The session was moderated by Md Ruhul Alam Siddique, former acting foreign secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In his speech, Delwar Hossain highlighted the historical relations between Bangladesh and the Philippines and stressed the need to explore new dimensions of cooperation, including trade, investment, people-to-people linkages, and maritime collaboration.

He underscored the importance of strengthening diplomatic and economic ties in the changing geopolitical context of the Indo-Pacific region.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh, the bilateral trade between Bangladesh and the Philippines was $149.06 million in fiscal year 2022-23. Of this, Bangladesh exported products worth only $94.82 million.