Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser, Professor Muhammad Yunus, on Monday invited greater Swedish investment in the country, highlighting the Interim Government’s ongoing reforms to facilitate ease of doing business.
“We encourage more Swedish investment in Bangladesh,” said Professor Yunus, the 2006 Nobel Peace Laureate, during a meeting with Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Weeks at his office in Tejgaon, Dhaka. He emphasized that the government has made strides in curbing corruption, simplifying investment processes in export processing zones, and advancing the ratification of International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions on labor laws.
Ambassador Weeks reaffirmed Sweden’s support for the Yunus-led Interim Government and its reform initiatives, including those targeting the police, judiciary, election commission, and civil administration. “Let me assure you that you have our full support in this transition,” Weeks said.
The meeting also covered discussions on the July-August revolution, the government's reform agenda, Swedish investments in Bangladesh, and the pivotal role of women in the mass uprising.
Professor Yunus reiterated his government’s commitment to implementing comprehensive reforms before holding elections. He described the revolution’s focus as being centered on reforms, stating that the country’s situation had stabilized, though challenges such as managing high public expectations persisted. “Managing expectations is a big task. We are trying, but we are very careful,” he added.
Senior officials, including Lamiya Morshed, Senior Secretary and Principal Coordinator of the SDG Affairs, and Shahnaz Gazi, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were present during the meeting.
