Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Simon Coveney visited Concern Worldwide office, the largest Irish humanitarian organization. In his official visit, the Minister joined a meeting at Concern office, Dhaka on Sunday to discuss on strengthening collaboration for Bangladesh’s development sector.
H. E Simon Coveney, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Government of Ireland visited Concern Worldwide office along with H.E. Kevin Kelly, Ambassador, Embassy of Ireland in India; Declan Hughes, Secretary General, Department of enterprise, trade and employment, Government of Ireland. .
In the meeting, Concern Worldwide along with partners in Bangladesh: All Party Parliamentary Group; Coalition for urban poor, Nari Maitree and SEEP participated in the discussion.
In his remarks, the Minister Mr. Simon addressed on Irish Government support through Concern’s programmes in Bangladesh in long term development work, climate resilience and respond to emergency situations. This year, Irish government provided 37 Million Euro to Concern Worldwide programmes globally.
Addressing development issues, he expressed the interest of Ireland to extend collaboration in health and nutrition sectors. Following the visit, he has plan to talk to Bangladesh government to find medium to long term solution for the protracted Rohingya Refugee Crises in Bangladesh.
Concern Worldwide has been working in Bangladesh for last over 50 years to address extreme poverty across the country by implementing needs based, innovative humanitarian and development projects. This Irish organization has five strategic objectives in the Bangladesh Strategic Plan aligned with the Government priorities outlined in the 8th Five Year Plan of the Government of Bangladesh (2020-2025) and with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Concern and Irish Aid have a long-standing partnership focused on our common goals of tackling extreme poverty and reducing humanitarian need. Irish Aid is the Irish Government’s overseas development programme, one of Concern’s largest institutional donors.
Manish Kumar Agrawal, Country Director, Concern Worldwide said ‘Bangladesh has made considerable improvement over the years in health nutrition, food security and combating climate change impacts and disasters management. Concern design programmes aligned government development priorities in Bangladesh’
‘In Bangladesh, Concern works in partnership with local civil society and governments to enhance program quality, reach, and sustainability.’
During Bangladesh visit, the Minister Coveney will officially open Ireland’s first Honorary Consulate in Dhaka. The Irish Minster will also conduct a series of political, trade and Ireland-Bangladesh community meetings, according to the Irish government. In its desire to further expand the bilateral relations with Dhaka, Ireland has recently appointed Mr Masud Jamil Khan as its Honourary Consul in Bangladesh.
About the minister’s visit, Khan said: ‘Building on the existing excellent relations, Bangladesh and Ireland have scope to work together to strengthen the bilateral ties, tapping the potential of cooperation and collaboration in broad areas.’
With support of Irish Government, Concern Worldwide will continue focusing food security improvement and health and nutrition status of those living in extreme poverty, including strengthening health and food systems, reducing climate change impact in Bangladesh.
