Dutch Delegation Discusses Development, Democracy, and Direct Investment
The Dutch Vice Minister for International Cooperation, Pascal Grotenhuis, paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus to discuss expanding cooperation in various areas, including technology, agriculture, youth development, and establishing a social business fund for young and women entrepreneurs.
This bilateral meeting was held on 18 November, Tuesday, at the state guest house Jamuna in Dhaka. During the meeting, the Vice Minister stated that the Netherlands is planning to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority on public–private partnerships (PPP). He noted that the agreement will be finalized very soon, and Dutch investment in Bangladesh will increase further.
He said, “For fifty years, the Netherlands and Bangladesh have worked as development partners. Now we want to elevate this relationship to a partnership of equality in politics, trade, and investment.”
The Dutch Vice Minister further mentioned that various companies from the Netherlands that have long imported goods from Bangladesh are now interested in investing directly in the country and want to work as direct partners.
The two sides also exchanged views on Bangladesh’s democratic transition. Chief Adviser Professor Yunus said his government is committed to holding a free, fair, participatory, and festive national election in the first half of February.
He stated that the Awami League will not be able to participate in the upcoming national election because the party’s activities have been banned and the Election Commission has suspended its registration.
Professor Yunus added that a record number of new voters—who were unable to cast their ballots in the previous three “rigged elections” held under the former authoritarian government—will exercise their voting rights for the first time.
He further said, “This is a historic moment for us. The young people who painted graffiti and murals on the walls of Dhaka and other cities during the mass uprising—those same youths will now come to vote.”
Pleased with Bangladesh’s election preparations, Vice Minister Grotenhuis said that despite the very limited time available to the interim government, it has achieved significant progress.
Pascal Grotenhuis also welcomed Bangladesh’s labor law reforms. He said that the recent reforms in the labor sector will help attract more investment from the Netherlands as well as other European countries. Earlier this month, after being approved by the Advisory Council, the President signed the laws yesterday.
DBTech/BSS/IK/OR
