German economic zone will be established in Bangladesh that will help further intensifying the business relation between the two countries, State Secretary of German Federal Foreign Office Martin Biesel said.

Biesel was speaking at the celebration programme of 40th Independence Day of Bangladesh at the atrium of Deutsche Bank of Germany in Berlin. More than 300 dignitaries, including 70 ambassadors, from the host and accredited countries of the embassy attended the event.

The event commenced with the national anthems of Bangladesh and Germany followed by the speeches of Bangladesh Ambassador to Germany Mosud Mannan and State Secretary of German Federal Foreign Office Martin Biesel. A special toast was made wishing the continued success of Bangladesh-German friendship.

Mannan and Biesel jointly cut the anniversary cake on the occasion. Live music, dance, screening of videos on development activities and tourism promotion of Bangladesh and display of exportable products of Bangladesh were the main attractions of the programme.

The german secretary said the present scope of investment is very favourable in Bangladesh. He added that as a result of sincere effort by both the governments a German economic zone will be established.

Mannan said the German Democratic Republic was the first country in Europe to recognise Bangladesh on January 11, 1972 and recognition from the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) came on February4,1972.

He recalled the support of German people for the provisional government during the liberation war. The ambassador expressed his gratitude to FRG for providing treatment to a large number of post-war-wounded freedom fighters of Bangladesh.

At present Germany is the second largest destination of Bangladesh's total export and the largest in Europe, he said. “The German-Bangladesh relation is a glowing example of the ever-growing friendship and confidence, and Bangladesh values Germany as a longstanding reliable partner in development.”

The bilateral relation has infused in renewed depth and dimension under the present democratic government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he added. During the visit of Foreign Minister Dipu Moni on last August, two memoranda of understanding were signed. One was a government deal on cultural cooperation and another one was a private deal on shipbuilding, Mannan said.

Martin Biesel, in his address, said Bangladesh with her young, energetic, hardworking, motivated young people and with the stewardship and far-sighted vision of the government, had been emerging as a vibrant country in South Asia.