The Danish Crown Princess Mary Elizabeth has paid an official visit to Bangladesh from April 25th to 27th. Her official visit also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Denmark-Bangladesh bilateral relations. Princess Elizabeth visited a Rohingya camp and the Sundarban-a climate-vulnerable heritage site, during her visit. She also met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Foreign Minister Abdul Momen. Both countries expressed interests to increase cooperation on climate change, sustainable energy, and development cooperation during the meetings. Considering the vast opportunities ahead, this visit would be crucial in advancing bilateral relations.
Existing Bilateral Relations
Both countries enjoy excellent bilateral relations characterized by friendly feelings, empathy, and cooperation. This relation of friendship started in 1972 when Denmark recognized Bangladesh as an independent country. Immediately after that, the Royal Danish Embassy was established in Dhaka. In the last five decades, bilateral relations flourished gradually.
Several high-level visits, including Ministerial ones, have contributed to extending the ties. The relations further increased when Denmark supported Bangladesh’s Rohingya cause back in 2017. In November 2017, both countries also signed two agreements through which Denmark provides annual consultancy to Bangladesh on the Rohingya issue. In 2019, the relations further advanced when Bangladesh decided to join the Danish-led global forum P4G, Partnering for Green Growth and Global Goals 2030.
Bangladesh is also enjoying a positive trade balance with Denmark. In the Fiscal Year 2018-19, Bangladesh exported $730 million to Denmark while it imported $100 million. Even though the current bilateral trade is still small standing only at $830 million, it has grown gradually in the last few years.
Apart from trade, Denmark is also cooperating with Bangladesh in its pursuit of development. Immediately after the Rohingya exodus, Denmark provided $8 million in aid. Through the DANIDA development assistance, Denmark has provided $46 million to Bangladesh, $22 million to improve human rights and good governance, and $24 million in climate change and sustainable energy.
Apart from Political and Economic relations, both countries are also improving cross-culture connections. Around 2,500 Bangladeshi are now living in Denmark. They mostly contribute to the Danish economy by providing IT and management support. Moreover, they are also promoting Bengali culture in Denmark while sending back remittances. In the same way, many Danish nationals are also coming to Bangladesh as experts in white collar jobs. At present, Many Danish-linked companies and NGOs are working in Bangladesh. According to the Ambassador of Denmark to Dhaka, around 40 companies are engaged with Bangladesh directly or indirectly- an impressive number considering the size of Denmark.
Mutual Interests: Climate Change and Development Cooperation
Both countries also have mutual areas of interest. These mutual interests can deepen the existing bilateral relations. Denmark is working on sustainable development and climate change in the global arena. Bangladesh is one of the climate-vulnerable countries. The forecasts suggest that the impact of global warming and climate change will have an adverse impact on it. There are threats of increasing salinity, desertification, and submerging of coastal areas of Bangladesh. As a result, Bangladesh is always sincere about climate politics in the international arena. Both countries can increase their cooperation in this regard. Again, Denmark can raise the Rohingya concerns in global platforms. It can also use P4G to address the environmental aspect of the issue. Furthermore, industrial pollution has become a concern for Bangladesh. Denmark can provide assistance to Bangladesh in dealing with it as it has gained expertise on this matter.
Again, Bangladesh is also one of the fast-growing economies. The country also has an enormous thirst for development. As a result, Bangladesh welcomes Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Development Finance to meet its development needs. Bangladesh has also managed to ensure a safe investment environment and investment schemes. The country is prioritizing establishing hundreds of Exclusive Economic Zones and a strong IT industry.
Another potential sector Bangladesh is currently eyeing is the development of the blue economy. Many countries, including China, the USA, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia, etc., are already investing in Bangladesh. Denmark can also use its existing bilateral relations with Bangladesh to mobilize its finance, especially in IT and the blue economy.
The Significance of the Princess’ visit
Princess Elizabeth’s latest visit will be crucial for bilateral relations. The Danish development cooperation minister is also a part of her delegation to Bangladesh. Along with her visit to the Rohingya camps and climate-vulnerable sites such as Sundarban, Princess Elizabeth also visited remote villages in Satkhira- a coastal district of Bangladesh. These visits will allow the Danish government to understand Bangladesh’s climate security needs. Based on these ground realities, they can formulate their strategies accordingly.
Again, both countries have also signed a document titled Sustainable and Green Framework Engagement. Both countries will strengthen their partnership on climate and green development. According to the document, both countries will partner in focusing on climate change, environmental degradation, Sustainable Development Goals, and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. This will surely help both countries in advancing their climate causes.
During a meeting with the Prime Minister, the Danish delegation has also expressed its interests in investing in Bangladesh’ IT sector. Till today, the economic relationship between the countries is still very small. Denmark also has a trade deficit with Bangladesh. Investing in Bangladesh will help advance the relations.
Surely, both countries are entering into a new chapter of cooperation, as Princess Elizabeth’s visit during the auspicious event of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations will be instrumental in accelerating relations, especially in climate change and development cooperation.
*The writer is a Doctoral Researcher at the University of Groningen, Netherlands. Her areas of interest are Comparative Politics, Globalization, South Asian Studies, and Migration Studies.
May 6, 2022
The viewpoints expressed by the authors do not necessarily reflect the opinions, viewpoints and editorial policies of Aequitas Review.
