Ambassador: Austrian companies keen to invest in Bangladesh

Austrian companies are keen to invest in Bangladesh as the Western European nation seeks to cement economic ties with Bangladesh, the non-resident ambassador of Austria to Bangladesh, Katharina Wieser, said on Monday.

The ambassador, who is based in New Delhi, made the comments when she met Chief Adviser Dr Muhammad Yunus at his office at Tejgaon, Dhaka.

Wieser said her government will support Bangladesh’s interim government in its move to carry out sweeping reforms in the country.

The chief adviser said that the country will decide on the vote date once reforms are implemented and the voter list is prepared.

The ambassador said several Austrian companies are interested in investing in Bangladesh, including a company that wants to set up a technical school on the outskirts of Dhaka.

However, they needed some cooperation from Bangladesh authorities to secure soft loans from Austrian financial institutions.

Yunus instantly asked officials to look into the issue with the ministry concerned.

Bangladesh's counterterrorism measures, cross-border issues, human trafficking, legal migration, climate change, reforms in Bangladesh police and the country's law and order situation are also featured in the talks.

Wieser said Austria has a long-term policy to promote legal migration, and Bangladeshis are the sixth-largest migrant community in the rich Western European nation.

The chief adviser said that Austria should take more Bangladeshis through legal channels.

He further said that it would cut human trafficking from Bangladesh.

Lamiya Morshed, senior secretary and the principal coordinator of SDG affairs, and Tasbirul Islam, honorary consul of Austria, were present during the meeting.

Source: UNB