Dhaka:President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has called for increased Swiss investment in Bangladesh and the expansion of bilateral trade to boost the country's economic growth. This appeal was made during a meeting with Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh, Reto Siegfried Renggli, at Bangabhaban.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the president acknowledged the contributions of Swiss companies in Bangladesh and stressed the need for further investment in promising sectors. He emphasized that Bangladesh prefers substantial investment over aid, highlighting the country's vast potential for growth.
The president noted that increased Swiss investment would create employment opportunities and accelerate Bangladesh's progress. Additionally, he expressed admiration for Switzerland's local government system and showed interest in leveraging Switzerland's experience to strengthen Bangladesh's local government institutions. Ambassador Renggli assured the president of Switzerland's support in this regard.
President Mirza Fakhrul also appreciated Switzerland's cooperation in enhancing the capacity of Bangladesh's democratic institutions and parliamentary processes. The meeting covered various topics, including climate change, skills development, cultural exchanges, technical education, and research.
Present at the meeting were the president's Military Secretary, Secretary, Press Secretary, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Swiss Embassy Deputy Head of Mission Diepak Elmer. Discussions encompassed longstanding bilateral relations and other significant issues such as reforms and good governance, as noted by the Swiss Embassy in Dhaka.
The Ambassador conveyed Switzerland's intention to place more emphasis on bilateral trade, investment, and knowledge cooperation, while also focusing on shared priorities like democracy and multilateralism.