Bangladesh has urged Switzerland to use the country’s growing capabilities in the ICT sector by investing in the Hi-Tech Parks.
Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen made the request when the new Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Nathalie Chuard called on him at the state guesthouse Jamuna, the foreign ministry said on Thursday.
Dr Momen urged her to encourage Swiss investors to invest in the Hi-tech parks of Bangladesh.
The new Swiss Ambassador also paid a courtesy call on state minister for foreign affairs Md Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Wednesday.
Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) is establishing Hi-Tech Park, Software Technology Park and IT Training & Incubation Centre throughout the country to attract the local and foreign investors for the development of Hi-Tech/ IT/ITES industries.
It creates huge employment opportunities and skilled human resources.
Hi-Tech park is full of opportunities to invest in the Hi-Tech Industry and promote business which are knowledge and capital-based. Information technology, Software Technology, Bio-Technology, Renewable Energy, Green Technology, IT Hardware, IT Enabled Services and R&D are major areas of investment in the HiTech industry in Bangladesh.
The Foreign Minister briefed the new ambassador about Bangladesh’s tremendous socio-economic developments, particularly during the last one decade under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
He referred to the Prime Minister’s vision of a ‘Digital Bangladesh’ and informed the Swiss diplomat of Bangladesh’s growing capabilities in the ICT sector.
He mentioned that Bangladesh is developing 28 Hi-tech parks and has a huge pool of IT professionals.
He praised precision and high-quality of the Swiss products, and invited Swiss investors to set up manufacturing factories in the Special Economic Zones (SEZs) of Bangladesh, taking advantage of various incentive packages that are on offer for FDI, Bangladesh’s demographic dividend and a growing middle class population.
Besides, such Swiss investment would enable Bangladeshi workers to learn from the Swiss manufacturing expertise, Dr Momen said.
He further pointed out that alongside the Ready-made garments sector; pharmaceutical and leather sectors are two other emerging export-oriented sectors of Bangladesh, and urged Switzerland to import more of these products from Bangladesh.
Although 25 August marked the third anniversary of the latest Rohingya influx to Bangladesh, not a single Rohingya could be repatriated yet due to lack of political will and decisive action on the part of Myanmar despite agreed commitments of Myanmar, underscored Dr. Momen.
Appreciating Switzerland’s continued support to resolve the Rohingya crisis, the Foreign Minister sought international community including Switzerland’s stronger role in ensuring sustainable repatriation of Rohingyas at the earliest.
The issue of justice for the victims and accountability for the atrocities committed was also highlighted by Dr. Momen.
The Swiss Ambassador assured him of her country’s strong commitment in this regard.
Dr. Momen informed the Swiss envoy that currently Bangladesh is the President of Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF).
He said that despite international commitment for mobilizing USD 100 billion per year by 2020 for adaptation and mitigation of the negative impacts of climate change, the present situation of climate finance is in a bad shape.
He urged Switzerland and other developed countries and international partners to mobilize more financial resources to address this global challenge collectively.
