DHAKA: Bangladesh and Myanmar will sign agreements on economic cooperation and investment protection during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to the country on Monday, officials said, as part of efforts to double trade to $200 million in two years.
Hasina's visit is the first by a Bangladeshi prime minister in eight years at the invitation of Myanmar President Thein Sein who is leading a push to re-engage the international community after decades of isolation.
"She will explore possibilities including buying energy, leasing farming land and joint hydro-electric projects," Bangladesh Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said.
The agreements that two countries plan to sign will help increase trade, officials said. Dhaka is looking to increase exports of pharmaceuticals, frozen food, cement, ready-made garments, plastic products and toiletries to Myanmar.
The two countries generally enjoy friendly ties, but have squabbled in the past over what Bangladesh says has been an influx of refugees, mostly minority Muslims from Myanmar fleeing persecution.
A dispute over certain gas blocks in the Bay of Bengal that both claim has also cropped up in recent months.
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