15-member Swiss delegation in city

A 15-member delegation comprising members of the Swiss Advisory Commission on International Development Cooperation arrived in Dhaka city on an 8-day visit to familiarise themselves with the opportunities and challenges facing Bangladesh development sector. The Swiss Advisory Commission on Development Cooperation is an important consultative body in Switzerland. The commission advises the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Economy on issues of international development cooperation. The delegation is composed of representatives of the Swiss Parliament, academy, private sector and NGO community, said an official on Tuesday. The delegation members will interact with civil society representatives, development partners and other relevant stakeholders during the visit. They will also travel to Sunamganj, Jessore, Khulna and Gazipur districts to visit development projects funded by the government of Switzerland. Bangladesh is one of the priority countries of the government of Switzerland with regards to long-term development cooperation. The current Swiss Cooperation Strategy for Bangladesh focuses on 3 thematic areas like local governance, skill development and market development. The annual Swiss development assistance to Bangladesh amounts to over US $ 30 million, according to a news agency.