Djibouti Prime Minister Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed met Bangladesh's interim leader Muhammad Yunus on Monday to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional developments.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the 2025 World Food Forum in Rome that also marked the 80th anniversary of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
The global gathering, held under the theme “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” brought together heads of state, ministers and international partners.
Prime Minister Mohamed and Yunus explored avenues for cooperation, including boosting trade and investment and sharing expertise, the Djiboutian authorities said.
Food production
The Djibouti premier underscored the urgency of improving access to agricultural technologies and innovation, while calling for stronger public–private partnerships to boost food production.
He commended the Bangladeshi leader for his global influence and reputation, noting that his work was well-known and respected in Djibouti. He extended an invitation for the Nobel laureate to visit the Horn of Africa nation, saying Djibouti was eager to learn from Bangladesh’s experience in community-based lending.
“We would value your guidance on how to successfully integrate microfinance into our national development framework,” the Djiboutian leader said.
Professor Yunus, who pioneered the concept of microcredit through Grameen Bank, welcomed the proposal and encouraged Djibouti to send a technical team to Bangladesh to gain practical exposure to the country’s microfinance institutions.
Strengthen economic ties
The Bangladeshi economist also highlighted opportunities to strengthen economic ties, suggesting that Djibouti could import garments and pharmaceuticals from Bangladesh at competitive rates.
Djibouti’s minister for microfinance, present at the meeting, sought Yunus’s insight on establishing a sustainable financial inclusion framework.
Accompanying Professor Yunus were senior Bangladeshi officials, including Food Adviser Ali Imam Majumder, Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhter, SDG Coordinator Lamiya Morshed, and Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Siam.
Professor Muhammad Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize laureate known for his groundbreaking work on microcredit, took office as Bangladesh’s interim leader in August 2024 after the resignation and departure of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to India.
