Switzerland to invest Tk 11b for Bangladesh’s LDC graduation, resilience
Switzerland will invest Swiss Franc 119 million equal to Tk 11 billion (1,100 crore) to support Bangladesh’s successful LDC graduation, promote a just and resilient society, and contribute to peaceful coexistence.
The Swiss embassy in Dhaka made the announcement as it launched a new cooperation programme 2022-2025, which is aligned with the Agenda 2030 and Bangladesh’s development priorities, including the Eighth Five-Year Plan.
The Swiss Cooperation Programme, which was launched at a city hotel on Wednesday, comes at a time when Switzerland and Bangladesh are about to celebrate 50 years of bilateral relations.
Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation director general Patricia Danzi was present at the programme on the last day of her five-day visit to Bangladesh. Minister for planning MA Mannan attended the event as the chief guest.
The new cooperation programme is guided by Swiss foreign policy priorities and the country’s international cooperation strategy. The overall goal of the Swiss Cooperation Programme 2022-2025 is to support Bangladesh’s sustainable LDC graduation, promote a prosperous, just and resilient society, and contribute to peaceful coexistence.
During her visit, Danzi met senior government officials, development partners, beneficiaries and other key stakeholders to discuss a wide range of topics, including bilateral relations, international cooperation, Bangladesh’s development priorities and the Rohingya crisis.
She also visited Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar and different humanitarian and development projects funded by Switzerland in Cox’s Bazar and Gazipur districts.
Switzerland was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with Bangladesh after its independence.
Over the last five decades, bilateral relations between the two countries have grown broader and deeper, including economic and international cooperation, humanitarian aid, as well as cultural and political exchanges.
The two countries will celebrate the golden jubilee of their bilateral relations in 2022.