Newly appointed ambassadors-designate of Sweden and the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria presented their credentials to President Mohammed Shahabuddin at the Bangabhaban on Wednesday.
The envoys are Dr Abdelouahab Saidani of Algeria and Nicolas Linus Ragnar Weeks of Sweden.
President's press secretary Joynal Abedin briefed reporters after the meeting.
Terming Sweden a trusted development partner of Bangladesh for the last five decades, the president said that Sweden plays an important role in improving the living standards of the poor, particularly women and children, and in promoting gender equality alongside socio-economic development.
He expressed satisfaction with the existing ties between Bangladesh and Sweden.
The president highlighted the immense prospects for cooperation between the two friendly countries in trade and investment, as well as in promising sectors including IT, green transition, renewable energy, waste-to-energy, blue economy, maritime, and food processing.
President Shahabuddin hoped that Sweden, as an important member of the European Union, would contribute to international peace, security, human rights, sustainable development, and climate issues.
He thanked the Swedish government for its humanitarian support to the Rohingyas in Bangladesh and appreciated Sweden’s persistent commitment to finding a durable solution to the Rohingya repatriation issue.
In his meeting with the Algerian ambassador, the president proposed that Algeria consider importing world-class Bangladeshi products such as textiles, jute, pharmaceuticals, food, and electronics.
Highlighting the vast potential for expanding bilateral trade and economic ties, the President requested an exploration of LPG or LNG supply from Algeria to Bangladesh on mutually favorable terms to support sustained growth.
He emphasized that the existing relations among the countries would be strengthened and the scope of trade would also boost with this mutual trade.
Both ambassadors sought the full cooperation of the president during their official assignments in Bangladesh.
The president welcomed the new ambassadors upon their arrival, and they were accorded a “guard of honor” by the horse-mounted contingent of the President Guard Regiment (PGR).
