DHAKA: Switzerland promised to provide a total of 4 crores dollars as development assistance by 2017.

Swiss ambassador to Bangladesh Christian Martin Fotsch made the discloser while paying a visit to State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam at the ministry in capital on Wednesday.

Christian Martin Fotsch said that a high-level Swiss delegation comprised of government and non-government representatives will visit Bangladesh by the second half of current year to observe country’s investment environment.

The minister requested the ambassador for increasing the Swiss investment in the country saying, “Swiss businesspeople can invest in the country’s economic zones and they have the opportunity to take back cent percent of investment to their country.”

Shahriar sought for technical assistance to set up food processing industry and building cold storages for surplus food corps, fruits and vegetables preservations.

He also sought for Swiss government’s help on marketing agro-based products abroad.

Mentioning Bangladesh an investment-friendly country, the minister informed Fotsch that the government is likely to move for wide-ranged coal-based power plants soon.

BDST: 1818 HRS APR 09, 2014