Bangladesh, Switzerland discuss trade, investment expansion

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humayun Kabir held a courtesy meeting with Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Renggli on Monday, September 7.

The meeting took place at the state minister's office at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to further expand bilateral trade and investment, including increasing Swiss investment in Bangladesh's promising economic sectors.

Both sides acknowledged economic partnership as a key pillar of Bangladesh-Switzerland bilateral relations. They agreed to take effective steps to expand opportunities for technical and vocational skills development for Bangladeshi workers.

The state minister also emphasised the importance of regular exchanges to strengthen political, cultural and people-to-people ties between Bangladesh and Switzerland.

The Swiss ambassador expressed hope that the opening of Bangladesh's new embassy in Bern would help deepen and broaden existing bilateral relations.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to shared values including democracy, human rights, multilateralism, respect for international law and a rules-based international order. They also reaffirmed their commitment to working together in multilateral forums to uphold these values.

The ambassador praised Bangladesh's generosity in hosting a huge number of Rohingya refugees and reaffirmed Switzerland's continued support for their voluntary, safe and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar, as well as its commitment to supporting international efforts towards a lasting solution to the crisis.