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Bilateral ties with Sweden set to grow

Published : Wednesday, 27 March, 2024 at 12:00 AM  Count : 538
Akib Rahman Shanto
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, together with the Swedish minister for international development cooperation and foreign trade, Johan Forssell, and UNDP assistant secretary general Ulrika Modéer, visited Bangladesh last week. The visit between March 18 and March 21 took place on the occasion of the crown princesss role as goodwill ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme and the Sustainable Development Goals and was the first visit she made in this capacity.

The purpose of this visit was to learn about the development journey of Bangladesh and study the progress and challenges in implementing the SDGs, focusing on climate, gender equality, the green and digital transition, and the role of the business sector. They also participated in events focused on the business sectors role in promoting the green and digital transition. Following these, the crown princesss visit was a unique opportunity to strengthen partnerships toward a resilient and inclusive future and is expected to usher in a new era of Dhaka-Stockholm ties.

A fifty-year-long partnership: Sweden was one of the first European countries to recognize Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign state in 1972. The government and people of Sweden stood by Bangladesh as the country embarked on a difficult reconstruction and rehabilitation journey. Initially, the relations focused on humanitarian support, which later shifted into development cooperation that has had long-term impacts in many areas.

Today, the ties are multifaceted, dynamic, and growing. Development cooperation has been a cornerstone of bilateral relations, but as both countries have evolved, so has the relationship. Sweden has been a steadfast partner in Bangladeshs development trajectory in the last five decades, with active footprints in good governance, labor rights, trade, investment, disaster risk reduction, environmental protection, education, cultural cooperation, and humanitarian assistance. In addition, Sweden is actively engaged and supports efforts to provide assistance to the Rohingya refugees as well as the host communities in Coxs Bazar district.


With more than 50 Swedish companies already present in Bangladesh, there is potential for stronger commercial relations. Tele-communication equipment and machinery are the most important export products to Bangladesh. Other engineering products, such as paper, wood, ore, iron, steel, and chemicals, are also essential. The most important export items from Bangladesh to Sweden are clothes and textiles. Most Swedish fashion brands have found Bangladesh to be a competitive sourcing market, and the market is growing steadily.

Additionally, a market of 164 million consumers, a growing middle class, greater purchasing power, local demand, low labor costs, and rapid economic expansion will keep Sweden in its geostrategic orbit. Meanwhile, due to concerns about overdependence, supply chain instability, and the global economic crisis, Bangladesh may offer itself an intriguing alternative destination for Swedish. On the other hand, the number of Swedish companies is also increasing in Bangladesh, reflecting the importance of the visit.

Future of Swedish-Bangladeshi ties: During this visit to Bangladesh, the Future Queen conducted field visits to witness firsthand the positive impact of inclusive digital development on poverty reduction in rural areas. She visited Coxs Bazar Ukhiya Rohingya camp to witness firsthand the collaborative efforts of multiple UN agencies, including UNHCR, WFP, IOM, UNICEF, UNWOMEN, and UNFPA. She also gained insights into the challenges faced by the Rohingya community and the various aid services extended to them. It is hoped that the crown princesss visit will deepen the future ties of Bangladesh-Sweden relations.

Sweden and Bangladeshs partnership goes back more than 50 years and consists of long-term development cooperation and extensive trade. The ties are vibrant and multifaceted, covering development cooperation, trade and investments, and people-to-people engagement. The country is determined to continue to work to enhance this partnership and support Bangladeshs path towards sustainable economic growth and inclusive development. The current strategy for development cooperation covers the years 2021-2025. It focuses on four areas: inclusive economic development, democracy, human rights, rule of law and gender equality, health and climate, and environment.

Besides trade and investment, a Swedish-Bangladeshi partnership on climate change issues can be impactful; as a low-lying coastal country, Bangladesh is particularly susceptible to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and other manifestations of climate change. In this regard, Sweden, with its expertise in sustainable development and renewable energy, can collaborate with Bangladesh to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change and build resilience in vulnerable communities.

Bangladesh will become a developing country in 2026 after a UN commission recommended that the country be allowed five years rather than three to prepare for the transition due to the economic impact of COVID-19. Consequently, Bangladesh needs a trusted friends assistance to overcome the challenges and achieve its objective of being a developed country. In this regard, Sweden wants to strengthen bilateral ties with Bangladesh. The business sector, including Swedish companies, plays an important role in promoting the green and digital transition, contributing significantly to job creation and sustainable growth.Stockholm can play a crucial role in influencing the European Union to provide GSP facilities to Bangladesh. Also, both countries should look after areas where Sweden and Bangladesh see possibilities for enhanced partnership, including finding synergies between development and trade, sustainability, and investment partnership.

The writer is  a Postgraduate student of the Department of International Relations, University of Dhaka



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