DHAKA: Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed on Tuesday categorically said Netherlands assured to provide Tk 300 crore in some development projects in Bangladesh.

The minister made the disclosure after a meeting with the delegation of Netherlands at his secretariat office on Tuesday.

The 15-member delegation was led by Deputy Director of International Cooperation of Netherlands’s Foreign Ministry Christiaan Rebergen where Netherlands Ambassador to Dhaka Gerben de Jong was present.

Tofail Ahmed said, “The Netherlands government supported Bangladesh during the Liberation War and also gave acknowledgement of independence.”

Expressing hope of raising of trade with Netherlands, the lawmaker said Bangladesh exports products worth 858 million dollars in Netherlands and imports products worth $162 million.

After Netherlands’s survey to prevent erosion in Bangladesh, Tofail said Netherlands government give assurance to give financial and technical help.

The minister also said if Netherlands took the responsibility of financially important Bhola district, erosion would be removed forever.

They also showed interest to help on establishing a deep seaport.

BDST: 1650 HRS, SEP 09, 2014