Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday laid importance on expansion of trade and investment with Sweden, particularly strengthening cooperation in shipbuilding and garment sector, reports BSS. Bangladesh is a good place for investment and the government has taken initiatives to set up special economic zones across the country for local and foreign investors, she said. The Prime Minister said this when visiting Swedish Minister for Justice and Migration Morgan Johansson made a courtesy call on her at her Gonobhaban residence here. PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said the Prime Minister in the meeting highlighted Bangladesh’s investment and economic potentials to the Swedish minister. She said Bangladesh is looking into economic prospects of whole region. Sheikh Hasina noted that Bangladesh and Sweden are working together on various global issues for sustainable development. She said trade, investment and economic cooperation in the whole region including north eastern part of India, Nepal and Bhutan would get boost once Paira Port and Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) economic corridor are implemented. Sheikh Hasina welcomed the Swedish minister in his first visit to Bangladesh. She said many projects under joint collaboration with Sweden are contributing to Bangladesh’s development. Many Bangladeshis are now living in Sweden and they are contributing to our economy, she added. Sheikh Hasina thanked the Swedish government for continued support to Bangladesh’s trade and investment including RGM industry. She also mentioned Sweden’s significant contribution to global migration discussion. Morgan Johanssaon appreciated Bangladesh’s tremendous progress in socio-economic and health sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Pointing out the study of a Norway, Sweden and Denmark-based organization, the minister said Bangladesh is a tremendous prospective place for investment in the region. The Swedish minister handed over an invitation of Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven to Sheikh Hasina to visit Sweden at her convenience. The Prime Minister invited Morgan Johansson to join the Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD) to be held in December next in Dhaka. Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haq, PMO Secretary Suriya Begum, Bangladesh Ambassador to Sweden Golam Sarwar, Swedish minister’s political advisor Natasa Mirosavic and Swedish envoy in Dhaka Johan Frisell were present. Meanwhile, UNB adds: Visiting Swedish Minister for Justice and Migration, Morgan Johansson, met State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and discussed bilateral issues. During the meeting held at the Foreign Ministry, both Morgan and Shahriar stressed the need for strengthening bilateral relationships between the two countries through exchanging high-level visits, said a press release. They also discussed problems being faced by Bangladeshi workers abroad and government initiatives in this regard, and steps to improve working atmosphere at readymade garment factories, workers’ safety and their welfare. Shahriar Alam said Bangladesh as the current president for Global Forum for Migration and Development (GFMD) is working on some new and challenging issues like placing migration governance. He also invited Morgan Johansson to attend the GFMD conference to be held on December 10-12 in Dhaka. The junior minister informed the Swedish Minister about the socio-economic development of Bangladesh, its self-reliance in food and success in other development works.
