Articles and sites I browsed today.

From The New Nation

Procedural delay blamed Drastic Swiss aid cut By UNB, Dhaka Jul 24, 2004, 13:45

Switzerland drastically cuts development aid to Bangladesh for "extreme" procedural delays in approval and implementation of projects.

"Swiss investment in development projects has been dropped drastically and we had to go further down this year, "Swiss Charge d' Affaires Jurg Casserini said in an interview with UNB.

Total public aid for development from the European country was USD 20.6 million in 2002 that came down to USD 19.7 million in 2004.

Casserini said Swiss Development Corporation (SDC) is still working with around 35-36 projects. "But we can't implement some of the projects or take up new projects as we're still waiting for the green light from the government."

Citing various problems, including inordinate delay in the process of approval and implementation of the projects, he said if the money is not spent within the stipulated time, it would go back to other countries. "Money is ready, everything is ready. But if you can't spend it timely, it will go back to other countries like Africa, Afghanistan and Iraq," he said.

The European diplomat also pointed out the slide in law and order, hostage taking, corruption and political hostility as detrimental factors to foreign investment. Foreign investors little know about "facilities and big possibilities" in Bangladesh to develop trade and commerce relations. He was also critical about delays in establishment of independent Anti-Corruption Commission, separation of the judiciary and appointment of Ombudsman promised by the government at the Bangladesh Development Forum Meetings.

About the government decision on introduction of labour unions in the EPZs under what he called "American force" Casserini said, "I think this development is not very much in favour to gain more foreign investment in EPZs" where Swiss companies invested money.

The envoy noted that Bangladesh would gain quicker development if the nagging problems could be resolved. Focussing on government-opposition dialogue to resolve the problems, he said it would be difficult to find solution if the ruling party and the opposition did not talk to or listen to each other.

In reply to a question, he said more than 120 Swiss companies, including Nestle, Holcim, Novartis, Ciba Gaegi and Roll, have direct investment in Bangladesh and are in the trade.

About two-way annual trade that amounts to USD 60-65 million, he said actual trade figure is much higher than the official statistics as some Swiss companies are buying goods from here and selling those to EU and other countries, which is not accounted in the bilateral trade turnover.

Switzerland is mostly importing garments, food, handicrafts, pharmaceuticals and leather products from Bangladesh.

Casserini said Bangladesh is on the list of the countries to receive help from the state-owned Swiss Import Promotion Programme (SIPPO) to help Bangladesh's exports to Switzerland and other countries. The SIPPO is now working to help develop Bangladesh's frozen food, shrimp, bio-shrimp and other facilities in the fisheries sector.

Besides, Switzerland is trying to assist some select jute exporters to have better products and better qualities to compete on the international market, how to use jute by-products in the plastic industry, develop pulp industry and organic tea.

In reply to a question, the envoy said Bangladesh and Switzerland are planning to sign an agreement on avoidance of double taxation. He said a Swiss company is planning to set up a Hotel Management School in Dhaka.

He also referred to an MOU signed between SIPPO and SIMSA and Bangladesh's BASIS for development of IT sector last year.

And here is another site called MDG Portal