Swiss President for broadening engagement with Bangladesh

ZOOMBANGLA DESK: President of Swiss Confederation Ignazio Cassis has said Switzerland aims at further broadening its engagement with Bangladesh to tackle global peace and security challenges marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

On this day, March 13, five decades ago, Switzerland officially recognized Bangladesh as an independent State.

The Swiss President extended his greetings to Bangladesh President Md. Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said a press release.

In his congratulatory message, the Swiss President emphasized the longstanding collaboration between the two countries in many domains as well as the continuous broadening and deepening of bilateral ties.

Highlighting a stronger partnership between Switzerland and Bangladesh, Cassis underlined key areas of future collaboration, including COVID-19 recovery, peace and prosperity, climate change and sustainable development.

Over the last five decades, he said, Switzerland has been a reliable development and economic partner of the people and the Bangladesh government.

Switzerland has invested over CHF 1.2 billion (~US$ 1.3 billion) in development assistance in the country, with significant additional contributions channelled through international financial institutions.

Switzerland’s development cooperation focuses on innovative projects benefitting the most vulnerable.

Bilateral trade has increased rapidly and today, traded goods amount to over CHF 1 billion (~US$ 1.1 billion) per year.

Most Swiss multinational companies are present in the country and provide critical products, technologies and services in various key socio-economic sectors, said the release.