DHAKA: The Netherlands, Italy and Sweden have vowed to stand beside Bangladesh in different sectors’ development projects.
Sources told banglanews that the Netherlands has pledged to invest in deep seaport project in Sonadia with others.
On the other hand, Italy will encourage its investors to put in Bangladesh’s garments’ sector and Sweden will support country’s ship industry.
The three countries made the promises in different meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of the Asia–Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit at the Milan Congress in Italy between Thursday evening and Friday morning, sources added.
The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, during the meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday, expressed his optimism that Bangladesh is going to be one of the next “eleven members” in terms of achieving economic prosperity, foreign secretary M Shahidul Haque briefed the media, after the meeting.
Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder and Bangladesh Ambassador to Italy Shahadat Hossain were also present at the briefing.
However, on Friday morning, Italy Prime Minister Matteo Renzi also praised Bangladesh in a meeting with Sheikh Hasina. He, however, admiring Bangladeshi ready made garments, said that he will urge his country’s investors to invest in Bangladesh’s garments sector.
The Italian Prime Minister, moreover, expressed his sanguinity with that his country’s trade amount with Bangladesh, which is now USD 70crore, might be lifted 2-times or 3-times by expanding investment here.
Nevertheless, Sheikh Hasina also met with the Sweden Prime Minister Stefan Löfven later.
The Swedish Prime Minister assured Sheikh Hasina there that his country will support Bangladesh in ship manufacturing.
Besides admiring Bangladesh, he also praised Saima Wazed Putul, daughter of Bangladesh Prime Minister, for working with autism.
Furthermore, Sheikh Hasina also met with German Chancellor Angela Dorothea Merkel and Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah along with the Prime Ministers of Greece Antonis Samaras, Japan Shinzō Abe, China Li Keqiang, Cambodia Hun Sen.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka for the Italian city of Milan Wednesday morning on a four-day visit to attend the 10th summit of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).
On October 18, the Prime Minister and her entourage will leave Milan for home.
BDST: 1550 HRS, OCT 17, 2014
