Monday, May 06, 2024
Switzerland Ambassador to Bangladesh Reto Renggli has shown interest towards establishing a direct air link between the countries, during a meeting on Thursday with Muhammad Faruk Khan, the minister of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry at the Secretariat.
Welcoming the interest, Faruk said, “We are optimistic that the Air Service Agreement between Bangladesh and Switzerland will be signed within the next two months. Then we will consider direct flights between the two countries.
“Bangladesh is located amid international aviation routes, and we are working to utilise this opportunity to transform Bangladesh into one of the major aviation hubs.”
He then said, “The aviation infrastructure development works are ongoing all the country airports including the third terminal of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, Cox's Bazar Airport runway extension and construction of new terminal.
“We expect the existing passenger and cargo capacity of the airline to double within a few years after the opening of the third terminal in October.”
Citing that work is underway to realise the immense potential of tourism in Bangladesh, the minister said, “The tourism master plan has already been finalised, and its implementation will start this year.
“We are also creating intensive tourism zones for foreign tourists in several other places of the country including Cox's Bazar. If Switzerland invests there, we will provide them all facilities. Besides, we are working with the Ministry of Home Affairs on visa facilitation and introduction of e-visa.”
Ambassador of Switzerland Reto Renggli said, “It was a pleasure for us to work with the Bangladesh team on the Air Service Agreement. The Bangladesh team has shown admirable skill in negotiation.
“Bangladesh has experienced unprecedented economic development in the last 15 years. We hope that the ongoing work of transforming Bangladesh into an aviation hub will be implemented soon.”
He added, “We will talk to Swiss investors to invest in Bangladesh’s tourism industry. We will take the initiative for a fact-finding mission to visit Bangladesh for investment. We will also send the master plan which prepared for the development of tourism to the investors.”
