Switzerland to provide 70 locomotives

Staff Correspondent: Switzerland will provide 70 locomotives to Bangladesh in a bid to strengthen its railway network.

Outgoing Swiss Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Fotsch said this during a farewell call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office on Thursday.

The envoy said the process of signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the locomotives has almost been completed.

Besides, a Swiss company is likely to export LNG to Bangladesh and an MoU in this regard is expected to be signed soon, he said.

It will help improve connectivity with the neighbouring country and within the country, the prime minister told the meeting.

The Swiss ambassador praised Bangladesh's progress under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina over the years. Constant growth of GDP of Bangladesh is appreciable, he noted.

The premier invited more Swiss investment in Bangladesh mentioning the advantage of cheap labour and other facilities here during the meeting.

Sheikh Hasina said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted to build Bangladesh as the Switzerland of the East. But the great leader was killed before his dream came true, she said.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim said the Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over excellent bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Switzerland. She laid importance on more high level visits to expand the bilateral relations.

Later Swedish ambassador to Bangladesh Johan Frisell also made a farewell call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her office.

The envoy said his country is eager to expand cooperation in the energy sector during the meeting.

The prime minister welcomed the interest of Sweden saying energy demand in Bangladesh is growing fast with the rise of purchasing power of the people.

Sheikh Hasina said her government opened private investment in energy sector to meet the growing demand as energy is the key to development.

Sweden can also consider investment in other sectors in the Special Economic Zones to be set up in Bangladesh, she said.

risingbd/Dhaka/July 13, 2017/Hasibul/Amirul