Antigua and Barbuda to open a consulate in Bangladesh

An announcement that Antigua and Barbuda will open a consulate in Bangladesh
this year and cricket legend Sir Vivian Richards has been invited to participate in
the opening which is creating much excitement in that Asian country.
Foreign Minister Chet Greene, who is currently in Bangladesh, made the
announcement in a media engagement on Sunday after meeting with Foreign
Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud at the state guesthouse Padma.
Long after his cricketing days are over, Sir Viv Richards remains widely popular
throughout the Indian sub-continent. Just the promise of Sir Vivian visiting for the
opening of the consulate in Dhaka this year is enough to generate excitement and
interest in Bangladesh.
Foreign Minister Greene said they will open the consulate for the convenience of
Bangladesh who want to visit or invest in Antigua and Barbuda.
At the same time, it will be helpful for Antigua and Barbuda nationals who want to
visit or invest in Bangladesh, he added.
Greene said his government has decided to be more involved in Asia, and it
believes that perhaps Bangladesh is the best place from which to start the
relationship.
He added that Antigua and Barbuda wants to increase cooperation with Bangladesh
in tourism.
Bangladeshis can study tourism at the University of West Indies, for which they
will provide scholarships, Greene said.
The minister also said Antigua and Barbuda has proposed a visa-free arrangement
between the two countries, meaning that the two countries will provide each other
with on-arrival visa facilities.