Key pillars for sustainable prosperity discussed, including trust, trade and green growth
Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, three longstanding friends of Bangladesh, have reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with Bangladesh as it embarks on its next chapter, supporting its aspirations to become greener, more innovative, trusted, and prosperous through a stronger and more sustainable partnership that unlocks new avenues for cooperation across key sectors.
Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Brix Møller, Norwegian Ambassador to Bangladesh Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen, and Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Nicolas Weeks came together at a symposium on Monday to share their perspectives, emphasising the importance of achieving sustainable prosperity through joint efforts and strengthened collaboration.
Issues such as trust, strong institutions, green growth, workers' rights, trade, investment, technology, gradual reconciliation, and long-term post-transition stability featured in the discussion as key pillars of a partnership aimed at achieving sustainable prosperity.
Trust is "the Nordic gold" and the Nordic countries - Denmark, Norway and Sweden - want to share it with Bangladesh. This idea of trust remains the Nordic region's greatest asset.
Cosmos Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Cosmos Group, hosted the symposium titled "Bangladesh and Nordic Countries: Prognosis for Partnership" as part of its ongoing Ambassadors' Lecture Series.
The symposium was chaired and conducted by renowned scholar and Cosmos Foundation President Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury. Cosmos Foundation Chairman Enayetullah Khan delivered the welcome remarks, while Catherine Grace Gardner Khan made the formal announcement of the event with her brief remarks.
Enayetullah Khan said the Nordic countries offer enormous expertise in green technology, digital governance, innovation, sustainable urban planning, renewable energy, and the circular economy.
"Together we possess complementary strengths that can create shared prosperity," he said.
Looking ahead, Khan suggested five priority areas - green energy partnerships; sustainable textile and circular fashion; digital transformation and smart governance; climate adaptation and blue economy initiatives; and innovative and knowledge partnerships - for future Bangladesh-Nordic cooperation.
"Such initiatives would not only strengthen bilateral cooperation but also contribute to addressing global challenges of climate change, sustainable development, and inclusive growth," he said.
Dr Iftekhar said the Bangladesh-Nordic narrative has moved from a donor-recipient hierarchy to a peer-to-peer alliance.
"As Bangladesh builds on its smart knowledge vision, the Nordics can provide the hardware of sustainability and good governance. In return, Bangladesh can open a dynamic market and a frontline perspective on climate survival," he said, adding: "Let us seize this moment to build a partnership that is not transactional, but transformational."
Dr Iftekhar said the way forward is knowledge transfer. "Instead of traditional grants, we should perhaps advocate for green joint venture funds, student exchange programmes in renewable technology, and technology-sharing agreements for waste management."
Danish Ambassador Christian Brix Møller said Bangladesh has already surprised the world, transforming itself from one of the poorest countries on earth into one of Asia's most dynamic economies.
"The next chapter is harder, but also more exciting. Can Bangladesh become greener, more innovative, more trusted and more prosperous? I believe it can. And Denmark intends to be part of that journey - not standing on the sidelines, not preaching, but investing, building and partnering," he said, noting that real partners invest in each other.
The Danish Ambassador said Bangladesh's success matters to Denmark and Denmark's success increasingly depends on partners like Bangladesh.
"When a partner like Bangladesh succeeds, Denmark succeeds too. That is what partnership looks like. And that is what sustainable prosperity means," he said, highlighting that the next chapter is about partnership for sustainable prosperity.
The Danish Ambassador said trust is not just an idea or some soft Nordic value. "For us, trust is hard infrastructure. It reduces transaction costs, makes reforms possible, attracts quality investment, and allows societies to make difficult compromises to move forward together," he said.
The envoy said real partnerships are built on trust. "That is why Denmark speaks about a Partnership for Sustainable Prosperity with Bangladesh: not aid, not charity, but partnership - and prosperity that is green, inclusive, and built to last."
Norwegian Ambassador Håkon Arald Gulbrandsen said there are a few key things an international investor, including Nordic investors, will look for, and chief among these is competitiveness in infrastructure, skilled manpower, and bureaucratic efficiency, fairness and predictability.
He said the credibility of the state and government organs and institutions like high political offices, the judiciary, bureaucracy, financial services institutions, police, and other forces will have to be rebuilt for efficiency and impartiality.
The Ambassador said long-term post-transition stability is now essential for Bangladesh and its people for their broader well-being and development of the country, following the successful election in February this year.
"Gradually, if not rapidly, reconciliation will also be necessary. All the political and social sides should come forward for that," he said, noting that it is, of course, up to the internal politics and politicians of Bangladesh to decide.
Highlighting relations with Bangladesh, Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Weeks said they will continue to grow in collaboration with Bangladesh.
Talking about LDC graduation, he said it brings real opportunities, although challenging. "It does bring real opportunities where Bangladesh can excel in being one of the more investor-friendly countries."
"We need collaboration with Bangladeshi counterparts and we need to work on a system where production can be more sustainable," he said.The Swedish Ambassador said they should work hand in hand in achieving the diversification of the Bangladesh economy.
"We see tremendous opportunities here. You're in a very strategic location. You have a large educated workforce. So Bangladesh should have everything going for itself," he said, adding that they want to continue working together strategically.
Ambassador Nicolas Weeks said Sweden has learned that openness is a winning strategy - for innovation, for growth, and for long-term resilience. "It is an approach that has shaped our partnership with Bangladesh for more than fifty years, and one we bring with us as we now move into the next phase together."
The Nordic envoys also talked about Bangladesh's ongoing reform process and the July Charter as they see such moments as an opportunity to take a big step to strengthen institutions, rebuild trust, and shape the country's next chapter.
Trust also shapes how the Nordic countries see the world, they said, adding that they believe in a rules-based international order.
The envoys said they believe sovereignty matters and borders cannot be changed by force.
The Nordic countries have stood together with Bangladesh from the beginning. Denmark, Norway and Sweden all recognised Bangladesh as a sovereign state on 4 February 1972.
More than fifty years later, they continue to work closely together, as Nordic neighbours, as partners, and as friends of Bangladesh.
The partnership remains strong, but the world is changing while Bangladesh is changing, the envoys observed, noting that the Nordic countries are also changing.
They said their partnership is changing too - from aid to business, from development cooperation to trade, quality investment, green growth and shared prosperity.
Barrister Ahmad Bin Quasem Arman, MP, Director General of the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) Major General A S M Ridwanur Rahman, Prime Minister's Speechwriter S A M Mahfuzur Rahman, Dean of the Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP) Brigadier General Muhammad Ali Talukder, Professors of International Relations at the University of Dhaka Dr Lailufar Yasmin and Dr Delwar Hossain, Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) at the University of Dhaka Dr Sazzad Siddiqui, Senior Research Director at the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) Faiz Sobhan, Director of Incredible Fashions Ltd (IFL) Ashna Huq, Professor, Department of Management, AIUB, Dr Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Talukder, and Chief Executive Officer of Mars and Co, Atif Ahmed Akkhor, among others, participated in the discussion.
