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Strengthening Trade Facilitation: Swedish Mission Visits Bangladesh

Bangladesh
Trade
25.02.2025
A high-level mission from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) visited Bangladesh to evaluate the progress of trade facilitation and promotion initiatives. The mission, comprising key officials from Sida and the Embassy of Sweden in Dhaka, engaged with public and private sector stakeholders across multiple locations, including Bhomra Land Port and the Plant Quarantine Wing of the Department of Agricultural Extension. Their visit, facilitated by Swisscontact, aimed to strengthen collaboration and gain deeper insights into the ongoing impact of trade-related projects in Bangladesh

A mission of three representatives from Sida recently visited Bangladesh to assess the progress of trade facilitation and trade promotion initiatives in the country. The team was led by True Schedvin, Head of Unit, Economic Development, Sida, and included Sven Olander, Senior Programme Manager, Sida; and Annie Sturinge, Programme Officer, Unit for Economic Development, Sida; along with delegates from The Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh – Fredrika Norén, Second Secretary, Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh; and Ikramul H. Sohel, Senior Programme Officer, Embassy of Sweden in Bangladesh.

On 9 February 2025, the delegation visited the Bhomra Land Port in Satkhira, accompanied by the DBLP project team from Swisscontact, on behalf of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation (GATF). During their visit, they engaged in active discussions with the Land Port Authority, local private sector leaders, and representatives from the Clearing and Forwarding (C&F) Agents’ Association.

Expressing her satisfaction with the port visit, Annie Sturinge, Programme Officer, Unit for Economic Development, Sida, remarked,

"I am very impressed by Swisscontact’s working methods. Skilled local staff, through close collaboration with both public and private stakeholders, have successfully challenged established work procedures and norms, and step-by-step, promoted locally adapted solutions to (address) market challenges."
Annie Sturinge, Programme Officer, Unit for Economic Development, Sida

Next, on 12 February 2025, the Sida delegation, along with the leadership team of the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), Dr. Ravi Khetarpal, visited the Plant Quarantine Wing of the Department of Agricultural Extension. They were accompanied by representatives from Swisscontact and the other stakeholders related to Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) programming.

During the visit, the delegation also met representatives from the Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables & Allied Products Exporters' Association (BFVAPEA) and gained insights into relevant impact-driven projects under the STDF of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Sven Olander, Senior Programme Manager, Unit for Economic Development, Sida, highlighted Swisscontact’s role in facilitating the mission, stating,

"We are very grateful for the support Swisscontact has provided during our visit to Bangladesh as part of our follow-up on STDF projects. They went above and beyond expectations, ensuring we had a comprehensive understanding of the Prioritising Investment for Market Access (P-IMA) exercise and the local context."
Sven Olander, Senior Programme Manager, Unit for Economic Development, Sida