DHAKA, Dec 22, 2021 (BSS) –

Switzerland will invest Taka 1,100 crore (Swiss 
Franc 119 million) to support Bangladesh’s successful LDC graduation, promote 
a just and resilient society, and contribute to peaceful coexistence.  

The Swiss Embassy in Dhaka made the announcement as it launched a new 
cooperation programme 2022-2025, which is aligned with the Agenda 2030 and 
Bangladesh’s development priorities, including the Eighth Five-Year Plan.  

The Swiss Cooperation Programme, which was launched at a city hotel today, 
comes at a time when Switzerland and Bangladesh are about to celebrate 50 
years of bilateral relations.  

Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Director General Patricia Danzi 
was present at the programme on the last day of her five-day visit to 
Bangladesh.   Minister for Planning MA Mannan attended the event as the chief 
guest.  

 The new cooperation programme is guided by Swiss foreign policy priorities 
and the country’s international cooperation strategy. The overall goal of the 
Swiss Cooperation Programme 2022-2025 is to support Bangladesh’s sustainable 
LDC graduation, promote a prosperous, just and resilient society, and 
contribute to peaceful coexistence.   

 During her visit, Danzi met senior government officials, development 
partners, beneficiaries and other key stakeholders to discuss a wide range of 
topics, including bilateral relations, international cooperation, 
Bangladesh’s development priorities and the Rohingya crisis.  She also 
visited Rohingya camps in Cox’s Bazar and different humanitarian and 
development projects funded by Switzerland in Cox’s Bazar and Gazipur 
districts.   

 Switzerland was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations 
with Bangladesh after its independence.  Over the last five decades, 
bilateral relations between the two countries have grown broader and deeper, 
including economic and international cooperation, humanitarian aid, as well 
as cultural and political exchanges.   

  The two countries will celebrate the golden jubilee of their bilateral 
relations in 2022.