Netherlands wants to strengthen cooperation with Bangladesh

The Netherlands has expressed interest in strengthening cooperation with Bangladesh. Local time on Friday (March 31), Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister. The country expressed this interest during the meeting with Ambassador Geoffrey van Leeuwen, Foreign and Security Adviser of Dutch Prime Minister Tofajzel Hossain Mia.

Ambassador Leeuwen said that the Dutch government is ready to strengthen cooperation with the Bangladesh government in other sectors besides the water sector. M Riaz Hamidullah, Ambassador of Bangladesh to the Netherlands, was present in the meeting along with the Chief Secretary.

The Chief Secretary informed the Dutch side about the progress of women in building a liberal society and the strong commitment of the Government of Bangladesh under the leadership of the Prime Minister to strengthen functioning democratic institutions in Bangladesh. He also requested Dutch support for the sustainable return of the Rohingyas and a political solution to the problems in Myanmar.

Advisor to the Dutch Prime Minister Leeuwen praised the continued development journey of Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and reiterated the invitation of the Dutch Prime Minister to visit the Netherlands.

Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh, BGMEA President Farooq Hasan, Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce (MCCI) former President Barrister Nihad Kabir and Secretary General Farooq Ahmed are leading a high-level Bangladesh delegation.

Throughout the day, the Bangladesh delegation held several meetings at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where both sides discussed a wide range of issues, including the extension of EU-GSP benefits to Bangladesh's garment sector after transition from LDC, cooperation in implementing transformational projects in various sectors in Bangladesh.

The implementation of the Delta Plan (Delta Plan 2100) was also discussed to facilitate the financing of Dutch investments in the private sector, especially in various sectors of Bangladesh's agriculture. Besides, the Chief Secretary met with representatives of leading Dutch financial institutions and Eindhoven-based Brainport to make Bangladesh's IT sector competitive with other countries in the world.

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