Bangladesh to be major dev partner of Sweden: Adviser tells Swedish leaders

FE Team | Published: November 08, 2007 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

STOCKHOLM, Nov 7 (BSS): Bangladesh will hopefully become a major development partner of Sweden.
Adviser for Foreign Affairs Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said this while talking to the media after his meetings with Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and Development Cooperation Minister Gunilla Carlsson here Wednesday.
"Sweden is revising her aid policy. To make it more effective, it is increasing volume and reducing numbers of partners from 70 to 33", the foreign adviser said.
"Only two Asian countries will remain on this list -- Bangladesh and Cambodia. Preparations are underway to draw up a five-year development programme with Bangladesh from 2008 to 2012", the adviser added.
On Wednesday morning, he called on the Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt and thereafter on the Development Cooperation Minister Gunilla Carlsson.
Chowdhury appraised them of the reform being undertaken by the caretaker government in building institutions to strengthen democracy, and underscored the importance of Bangladesh's positive international role including that in UN peacekeeping.
"Both Bangladesh and Sweden believe that our economic and political partnership is good for us both and a good example of North-South cooperation for the rest of world", he said.
Gunilla hosted a luncheon in honour of the foreign adviser.
Later, the adviser addressed the prestigious Swedish think-tank, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance on "Challenges and Future Prospects of Bangladesh."
The participants showed keen interest in Bangladesh.
Chowdhury reached Stockholm Tuesday evening and was received at the airport by the Swedish Chief of Protocol Herman af Trolle and the Bangladesh envoy to the Nordic countries Ambassador Muhammad Azizul Haque, among others.