By Roy Lie Atjam
The Hague, April 2022. This year the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh and The Kingdom of the Netherlands are celebrating their Golden Jubilee of Diplomatic relationship. Diplomat magazine had a causerie with the Ambassador of Bangladesh H.E. Mr M Riaz Hamidullah to accentuate this memorable milestone.
“50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE AND DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE NETHERLANDS”
At independence, many doubted the ‘idea of Bangladesh’. Some doubted viability of Bangladesh even, especially in the wake of floods and famine in the 1970s.
However, Minister Jan Pronk and many in the Netherlands and Scandinavia reckoned with the strengths of Bangladesh’s society and culture. The development aid was to improve the conditions of women, health, education, and natural capital. The past 4-to 5 decades saw so much of challenges tackled sustainably, including combatting riverbank erosion in an active nature delta. Social engineering considerably contributed to the ‘creation of wealth’ for millions at the grassroots. Thus, not only did extreme poverty fall to around 20%, social and income inequality was much more manageable compared to elsewhere in Asia.
Bangladesh now also has a homegrown class of entrepreneurs who are globally engaged and competitive. Today, Bangladesh is the second-largest economy in South Asia; and Bangladesh’s GDP is larger compared to some of its South-East peers. Comparing Bangladesh merely in respect of US$ 2,200+ per capita might not tell the larger canvass. As the two countries finished the first half-century of diplomatic ties, Bangladesh pitches the accent on “celebrating friendship” between the two nations. As the Ambassador elaborates, the first logical step in building any solid relationship has to be recognise and solidify the elements of friendship with any person.
The same should hold right in the case of countries and understand the needs and mutuality of interest. A long-lasting friendship also asks for each to know each other deeper and ascertain what is mutually needed and then shape a unique menu of engagement to cooperate.
The Embassy is thus promoting elements of Bangladesh art, culture, films, music and crafts that can connect with a young Dutchman or woman. This April, for instance, Bangladesh screened an award-winning feature film on climate change in cinema Lumiere at the heart of Maastricht city. Last November (2021), a Bangladeshi film had its global premiere at the iconic Pathe Tuschinski (1921) in Amsterdam.
At the same time, while the Embassy is focused on its core activities of engaging with the Government, it is actively reaching out to the Dutch academic and knowledge circuits e.g. Universities. In observing International Mother Language Day (21 February 2022), the Embassy travelled to the Leiden University College in Den Haag and held a creative observance of the Day with faculty and students of diverse backgrounds, not just from the Netherlands.
The Ambassador explained, “this is the way Bangladesh not just tries to tell of its history but also its approach to secure global values like empathy, tolerance and multi-culturalism”.
Export. Bangladesh’s key exports to Europe are readymade apparel, leather, IT services and agriculture. Recent years have seen the fast emergence of automobiles, digital hardware, pharmaceuticals, and household appliances manufacturing.
FAO statistics show Bangladesh featuring within the top 10 global producers of fruits and vegetables. Key among them is Mango. Due to the agro-ecological condition, Bangladesh mango offers a distinct fragrance and flavour. Last summer, a former Dutch MP tweeted Bangladesh mango as the “Champagne of mangoes”. About 2.5 million MT of mango are produced every year. Furthermore, pineapple, guava, jackfruit, and lichi have a promising future in the Netherlands and Europe. Fibre of Bangladesh Jute is also very famous.
During the Covid pandemic (2020), a BBC documentary showcased the properties of green jackfruit. While many people regard the ripe (yellow) jackfruit as a fruit, the green jackfruit is a popular vegetable to many in South Asia. Rich in anti-oxidant, it is billed as the next superfood (vegetable) and a replacement for meat.
Soon after Bangladesh emerged as an independent country, engagements began with development assistance. Five decades on, Bangladesh now has a robust, competitive pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. The future looks promising as Bangladesh is developing its own API (active practical ingredients) industry. Bangladesh now meets 98% of its domestic drug demand. Drugs are exported to over 140 countries worldwide, including for cancer.
Another knowledge-centric economic growth is that 85% of all Android smartphones in Bangladesh are manufactured locally.
The bilateral trade (NL – BD) figure of US$ 1.5 billion per annum speaks little of the expanse and potential between the two countries. A wider menu of economic engagements is on the horizon. With so much Agri tech and innovation in NL, Bangladesh merits going to the next level in the agri-food landscape drawing on Dutch knowledge and technology.
The Embassy is thus promoting elements of Bangladesh art, culture, films, music and crafts that can connect with a young Dutchman or woman. This April, for instance, Bangladesh screened an award-winning feature film on climate change in cinema Lumiere at the heart of Maastricht city. Last November (2021), a Bangladeshi film had its global premiere at the iconic Pathe Tuschinski (1921) in Amsterdam.
At the same time, while the Embassy is focused on its core activities of engaging with the Government, it is actively reaching out to the Dutch academic and knowledge circuits e.g. Universities. In observing International Mother Language Day (21 February 2022), the Embassy travelled to the Leiden University College in Den Haag and held a creative observance of the Day with faculty and students of diverse backgrounds, not just from the Netherlands.
The Ambassador explained, “this is the way Bangladesh not just tries to tell of its history but also its approach to secure global values like empathy, tolerance and multi-culturalism”.
Export. Bangladesh’s key exports to Europe are readymade apparel, leather, IT services and agriculture. Recent years have seen the fast emergence of automobiles, digital hardware, pharmaceuticals, and household appliances manufacturing.
FAO statistics show Bangladesh featuring within the top 10 global producers of fruits and vegetables. Key among them is Mango. Due to the agro-ecological condition, Bangladesh mango offers a distinct fragrance and flavour. Last summer, a former Dutch MP tweeted Bangladesh mango as the “Champagne of mangoes”. About 2.5 million MT of mango are produced every year. Furthermore, pineapple, guava, jackfruit, and lichi have a promising future in the Netherlands and Europe. Fibre of Bangladesh Jute is also very famous.
During the Covid pandemic (2020), a BBC documentary showcased the properties of green jackfruit. While many people regard the ripe (yellow) jackfruit as a fruit, the green jackfruit is a popular vegetable to many in South Asia. Rich in anti-oxidant, it is billed as the next superfood (vegetable) and a replacement for meat.
Soon after Bangladesh emerged as an independent country, engagements began with development assistance. Five decades on, Bangladesh now has a robust, competitive pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. The future looks promising as Bangladesh is developing its own API (active practical ingredients) industry. Bangladesh now meets 98% of its domestic drug demand. Drugs are exported to over 140 countries worldwide, including for cancer.
Another knowledge-centric economic growth is that 85% of all Android smartphones in Bangladesh are manufactured locally.
The bilateral trade (NL – BD) figure of US$ 1.5 billion per annum speaks little of the expanse and potential between the two countries. A wider menu of economic engagements is on the horizon. With so much Agri tech and innovation in NL, Bangladesh merits going to the next level in the agri-food landscape drawing on Dutch knowledge and technology.
Currently the 37largest economy globally, Bangladesh is a manufacturing economy where newer industries are emerging. That is why, a unique Agri-Business Conclave (Den Haag, 30 May 2022) aims to draw the leading Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in the agriculture and food industry to tie up with their Dutch peers, in partnership with leading Dutch platforms. Eventually, the Dutch entrepreneurs and SMEs are set to be exposed to the possibilities of collaboration through a Dutch Trade Mission by the end 2022.
New business model, example: Netherlands-Bangladesh business and investment mapping study ‘Mapping the ground @50 stitching partnerships’, RVO’s Market scan on potentials in Horticulture, Poultry, Dairy and Fisheries sectors of Bangladesh, Bangladesh-Netherlands Investment Summit (online) on Agriculture- Food, Light Engineering, Water- Maritime, BrainPort- EIPO’s preliminary survey visit, Dialogue on Bangladesh Agriculture in collaboration with WUR: looking into the future, Bangladesh’s participation in Floriade EXPO 2022, present Bangladesh’s potentials through social media platforms (LinkedIn, Twitter) and launching of a curated site https://bdunplugged.com/ Vision 2041, Bangladesh will be a developed and prosperous country by 2041.
While the Netherlands is a regulated delta, Bangladesh remains an active-most delta. In both lands, life and economy revolve around water. Both countries face increasing climatic stress. Yet, the Dutch and Bangladeshi people continue to address the limits of nature in their unique ways through their aspirations, resilience and continuing innovation.
In a land of 170 million people, today Bangladesh has over 30 million of her population classified as a Middle and Affluent Class (MAC). Other than being an exporting country, the growing demand for goods and services within Bangladesh is creating a next opportunity that should interest the Dutch companies.
For example, even a decade earlier, tea was a notable export from Bangladesh. With growing demand from the Bangladeshi middle class, there is now little tea to export abroad. Similarly, by 2030, half of Bangladesh’s population looks certain to live in urban areas. Faster urbanisation will generate newer economic activities. These are the ways the changing Bangladesh economy should signify investment opportunities for the Netherlands and others.
In the service-orientated economy that the Netherlands is, Bangladesh is exploring newer avenues e.g. impact investment. This is manifested in recent outreach from the Brain Port (Eindhoven) in Bangladesh.
Denmark’s Crown Princess Mary visits the Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh. She visited a Rohingya refugee camp at Ukhiya (Cox’s Bazar district) where she met with Rohingya refugee women and children at the camps. Princess Mary also met with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka.
As a genocide was unleashed on the 1.5 million Rohingya people in the Northern Rakhine State of Myanmar, even though Bangladesh was not a signatory to the Convention for refugees (1951), out of sheer humanitarianism, Bangladesh opened her borders.
Nearly five years on, hosting such over one million Rohingya population has cost Bangladesh the economy, society and ecology. Each year thousand newborn children are added to the figure. Given the nature of the issue, Bangladesh looks forward to their dignified and sustainable return to Myanmar at the earliest. Bangladesh demonstrated her humanity to the Rohingyas to save them from the atrocities of the Myanmar government.
The Rohingya dossier is a highly moral issue of justice and accountability for the entire humanity. In a world of competing issues, justice for and return of the Rohingyas to their country Myanmar often is missed out.
Since 2009 the government has implemented many megaprojects, including the Padma Bridge, Metrorail, elevated expressway, Karnaphuli tunnel, the LNG terminal, Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, and 100 special zones apart from the development of road, rail and waterway communication.
By all means, recent data bodes well for Bangladesh!
