Augurs Well
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi's two-day visit to Bangladesh has left us woken to the necessity of strengthening the legacy of bilateral relationship between the two countries. In a way it was not unexpected though. There is something quintessentially common about us and the country in the warmer southern Europe with great traditions. As it were due to the effect of a generous sun people of the two countries share certain healthy streaks in their nature - warmth and exuberance being two very prominent of them. These healthy aspects were unmistakably reflected in Mr Prodi's visit and stay here. Few Prime Ministers or Presidents of European countries would have put the itinerary of visit to this part of the world ahead of a European Union meeting.
Indeed the talks the two Premiers had on this occasion have quite a few splendid features and does a world of good to robust optimism. We are heartened at the Italian promise of taking part in donors' conference on the feasibility study of the vital Ganges Barrage project. However, the most heart-warming facet of the whole gamut of explorative discussion on entrepreneurial opportunity that has taken place between the two countries is the proposition of Italian assistance in telecom and energy sector infrastructure. We have long been trying to project Bangladesh as an investment destination but the underpinnings of all our loud overtures tend to get lost due to our serious infrastructural lacking. Unless we take a few rapid strides towards having a decent infrastructure in place bid, we will lag behind in our bid to catch the bus for the new millennium. This is where Italy's superior technological expertise comes with a note of great significance.
Although Italy and Bangladesh have come to share a tradition of business activities it does not, as the Italian PM so aptly observed in his address to the FBCCI, reflect true potentialities of the economies of our two countries.
We hope the tepid entrepreneurial relationship will follow a course of ebullient activism envisioned by Mr Prodi.
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