SBCCI hosted a dinner in honor of Honorable Ambassador of Switzerland H. E. Dr. Dora Rapold

Switzerland Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce & Industries had arranged a dinner to bid farewell to The Honorable Ambassador of Switzerland H. E. Dr. Dora Rapold on Saturday 16th May 2009, at Ballroom, Dhaka Sheraton Hotel.

There were presents Mrs. H.E. Dr Dora Rapold, Ambassador of Switzerland, Mr. Jürg Heinz Siegenthaler, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland, Mr. Ashfaque Ur Rahman , President, SBCCI, Ex Com, SBCCI and representative from the following member organization:

Associate Technology Ltd.

ASSL Textile

Bandos AG

Creative Engineers Ltd.

Dohatec

Daffodil Trading House Ltd.

Hasnat Enterprise

Habib Bank AG Zurich

M. H. Traders/Prime Pharma

M&H Informatics (BD) Ltd.

Novartis (Bangladesh) Limited

Nestlé Bangladesh Limited

OVERSEAS MARKETING CORPORATION

R.J.M. Corporation

Sanofi-Aventis Bangladesh Ltd.

Swiss Colours Bangladesh Ltd.

Saco Watch Company

SGS Bangladesh Ltd.

Tutelar Oil Services Co. (Pvt.) Ltd.

Textile Associates Ltd.

Xin Bangla Fabrics

Zuellig Pharma Bangladesh

 

 

Mr. Ashfaque Ur Rahman giving a crest to Honorable Ambassador of Switzerland H. E. Dr. Dora Rapold on behalf of SBCCI

Mr. Ashfaque Ur Rahman giving the welcome speech

Representatives of the member organizations

The Honorable Ambassador of Switzerland H. E. Dr. Dora Rapold giving the speech

The audience

Mr. Ashfaque Ur Rahman giving a paiting to Honorable Ambassador of Switzerland H. E. Dr. Dora Rapold on behalf of SBCCI

H. E. Dr. Dora Rapold with Executive Committee of SBCCI

SDC Director General Visits Bangladesh

The Director General (DG) of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) Ambassador Martin Dahinden came on a five-day trip to Bangladesh on 25th April. This was his first visit to Bangladesh. During the trip, the DG met the Bangladesh Finance Minister AMA Muhith and State

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Hasan Mahmud and discussed a range of bilateral development issues including climate change and renewable energy. The SDC DG re-affirmed Switzerland’s commitment to Bangladesh’s development despite the fallouts of the global financial crisis in Switzerland. Besides, the SDC DG held talks with civil society and business representatives of the country on development and economic potentials and challenges of Bangladesh.

 

Source: Swiss Talk, Swiss Embassy, Dhaka

 

 

Executive Committee’s meeting

13th Executive Committee’s meeting of SBCCI held on April 19, 2009 (Sunday).

 

 

Agenda

 (1)     SBCCI Registration Status.

(2)      Presentation of Mr. Geelhaar on the business opportunity            between Switzerland and Bangladesh.

(3)      New Members Registration.

(4)      Accounts Status.

(5)      Miscellaneous.

 

 

Executive Committee’s meeting

12th Executive Committee’s meeting of SBCCI held on January 28, 2009 (Wednesday).

 

AGENDA

 

1. Review on overall activities of SBBF
2. SBBF Registration
3. Miscellaneous

 

 

 

SDC Supports NGO Delegation to Geneva

SDC has supported the participation of Bangladeshi NGO and media representatives to the Universal Periodical Review (UPR) on Bangladesh in the UN Human Rights Council, held in Geneva in February. This assistance was aimed at increasing the knowledge and capacity of human rights actors in Bangladesh.

 

Source: Swiss Talk, Swiss Embassy, Dhaka

 

 

SDC has signed an agreement with the Transparency International Bangladesh

SDC has signed an agreement with the Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) to support the ‘Paribartan – Driving Change’ project. The SDC contribution is 5 million Swiss Francs (approx. 30 Crore Taka) for the period 2009-2014. The project aims at reducing corruption in public institutions so that poor people can get such services at valid cost, without having to pay bribe. The project also brings community people together so that they collectively create public demand to reduce corruption and put pressure on corrupt individuals, institutions and practices. These citizens committees work in the critical sectors such as health, education and local government, where people from all walks of life, specially the poor seek different services.

 

 

Source: Swiss Talk, Swiss Embassy, Dhaka

 

 

Swiss President Greets the New Bangladeshi Prime Minister

 

The President of the Swiss Confederation Hans-Rudolf Merz greeted the new Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday (7 Jan. 2009). In a message to the Bangladeshi Premier, the Swiss President expressed on behalf of the Swiss Federal Council his sincere congratulations and wished her every success in the eminent post. The message added ‘‘I would like to extend my best wishes to you for your personal well-being and the future prosperity of your country’’. The letter also noted that ‘‘the recent elections are an important milestone in the history of Bangladesh. On this special occasion, the Swiss government reiterates its commitment to continue its support to the democratic, social and economic development in Bangladesh’’.

Switzerland has welcomed the peaceful and well-administered 9th Parliamentary Elections of Bangladesh held on 29th December 2008. Switzerland has contributed to the preparation of the voter list with photographs and also participated in the international polls observation with 6 Swiss observers within the European Union mission. Switzerland also funded domestic observers during the parliamentary polls.

Source: Web site, Swiss Embassy, Dhaka

 

 

 

Switzerland Issuing Schengen Visas

 

Starting 12th December 2008, the Swiss-EU Schengen cooperation will be operational. This means that Switzerland will start issuing Schengen visas valid for maximal three-month stays. The Swiss-Schengen visa will not only allow travel in Switzerland but also in the whole Schengen area. Conversely, Bangladeshi passport holders with a valid Schengen visa issued by other Schengen states will also be able to enter Switzerland without an additional Swiss visa.

This is the result of the bilateral Schengen-agreement signed in October 2004 between Switzerland and the European Union. This new development will facilitate travel in Europe for Bangladeshi passport holders. The Embassy of Switzerland in Bangladesh will adopt Schengen procedures when issuing visas.

Source: Web site, Swiss Embassy, Dhaka

 

 

 

Meeting with Honorable Swiss Ambassador

 

Mr. Ashfaque ur Rahman, the president of SBCCI and Mr. Brett Marshall, the Secretary General of SBCCI met with H.E. Dr. Dora Rapold on 03 December, 2008 as a follow up on the issue of visit of Mr. Christian D. Watts, Regional Director IMEA, Swiss Export and Location Promotion.

AGENDA

Invite Mr. Christian D. Watts to assist the SBCCI to plan and execute the activities for the promotion of trade and commerce in Bangladesh.

 

 

 

Switzerland, Bangladesh Sign Double Taxation Treaty

 

Switzerland and Bangladesh have signed an agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation. Ambassador of Switzerland in Bangladesh Dora Rapold and Chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) of Bangladesh Muhammad Abdul Mazid signed the agreement on behalf of their respective states at NBR Conference Room in Dhaka on 10th December 2007. Officials of the NBR, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, the Swiss Embassy in Dhaka, representatives from Switzerland Bangladesh Business Forum (SBBF) and members of the press were present at the signing ceremony.

In the coming months, the agreement is expected to be ratified by the Swiss Parliament and the Bangladeshi side. After that the agreement will enter into force.

A number of large Swiss companies have investments in Bangladesh since independence in different sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food and diary, cement etc. Swiss Investment in Bangladesh now stands at US$ 118 million (source: Board of Investment, Bangladesh). In total, around 100 Swiss companies are represented by themselves or by agents in Bangladesh.

Trade between Switzerland and Bangladesh is increasing. In 2006, Bangladesh export to Switzerland was $ 118 million and Swiss export to Bangladesh was $107 million, according to official Swiss figures.

Source: Web site, Swiss Embassy, Dhaka