Online Desk: Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell has said Sweden will remain a steadfast partner to Bangladesh.

“I see a lot of potential for more Swedish companies to establish themselves here in Bangladesh,” Minister Johan Forssell quoted as saying in a media release issued by the Swedish Embassy on Monday.

UNDP Goodwill Ambassador, Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, together with the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell, and UNDP Assistant Secretary General Ulrika Modéer, have concluded their four-day visit to Bangladesh recently.

During the visit, the delegation had constructive meetings with representatives of the Government of Bangladesh, including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud.

The Crown Princess and the delegation also had the opportunity to meet with civil society, youth, national and international development partners, private companies and many other stakeholders to get their views on sustainable development in Bangladesh and opportunities and challenges of the future.

Several visits were undertaken in the southern parts of Bangladesh.

Accompanied by Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury, Crown Princess Victoria witnessed the consequences of climate change and adaptation efforts in Koyra, Khulna.

The delegation met women and youth who are part of the Local Government Initiative on Climate Change (LoGIC) project being implemented by UNDP and UNCDF (UN Capital Development Fund) with support from the Swedish government.

They learned about how empowering women and youth through capacity building, leadership training and entrepreneurship are important means to turn climate change vulnerabilities into opportunities, to ensure that no one is left behind.

Crown Princess Victoria and State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak inaugurated a Smart Service Point of Post Office in Koyra, Khulna, a key milestone by UNDP’s a2i – Aspire to Innovate towards SMART Bangladesh.

These efforts are strengthening digital inclusion by providing essential services to rural areas, demonstrating technology’s role in sustainable development.

In Chattogram, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Crown Princess Victoria engaged with a climate-displaced community and witnessed UNDP’s urban resilience programme, that empowers women leaders while fostering sustainable urban resilience.

Crown Princess Victoria and the delegation also visited Asian University for Women in Chattogram to engage with female students, many of them with refugee background.

In addition, the delegation visited the climate- vulnerable coastal island of Hatiya to observe UNDP’s work on climate resilience in hard to reach areas.

Crown Princess Victoria, Minister Johan Forssell and UNDP Assistant Secretary General Ulrika Modéer also made a stop in Bhasan Char and a visit to the Rohingya Refugee Camp at Cox’s Bazar and witnessed the collaborative efforts of multiple UN Agencies including the UNHCR, WFP, UNFPA, UN Women, UNDP, IOM and others, many of them funded by Sweden. HRH Crown Princess Victoria interacted with Rohingya Refugees and gained insights into the challenges faced by the Rohingya community.

In connection to the visit to the Rohingya refugee camps, the Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Johan Forssell referred to Sweden’s plans to provide SEK 77 million in humanitarian assistance to Bangladesh via Sida in 2024, an increase compared with last year.

“We’re seeing worrying developments in Bangladesh, with one million Rohingya refugees who don’t have sufficient food for the day. Sweden is a major core support donor to many aid organisations, and now we’re also increasing our humanitarian support to Bangladesh, with a focus on meeting urgent needs, saving lives and ensuring food security,” said the Minister.

The visit also had a focus on the green transition and the role of the private sector.

Minister Johan Forssell and ASG Ulrika Modéer participated in a panel with a focus on the role of the private sector in enhancing the green transition in Bangladesh and the delegation interacted with major Swedish companies such as H&M, Volvo, Ericsson, Scania and Atlas Copco, as well as international companies, pivotal in Bangladesh green transition.