Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday invited the leaders of Swedish business and industry to partner with Bangladesh in investment and trade for a shared prosperity and bringing a change in the lives of millions in both countries.“I strongly encourage you, the leaders of Swedish business and industry to partner with us in investment, trade, and innovative businesses for a shared prosperity. Together we can bring a change in the lives of millions in both our countries,” she said.The prime minister said this while addressing a business dialogue of Bangladesh-Sweden Investment Forum at Rosenbad Conference Centre of the Prime Minister`s Office here this morning.The prime minister said Bangladesh has the most liberal investment policy in South Asia. “Cost of establishing business is relatively lower. We enjoy `duty free, quota free` access to the markets of EU, Australia, Canada, India, Japan and New Zealand,” she said.Sheikh Hasina said 100 `Special Economic Zones` (SEZs) are being established in Bangladesh and such economic zones have been allocated exclusively to China, India and Japan on G2G basis.“We are also developing a number of Hi-tech Parks ... I invite Swedish companies to partner with us in our development efforts,” she said.The prime minister said that she is happy to learn that an MoU between Sweden Bangladesh Business Council based in Sweden and Nordic Chamber of Commerce and Industry based in Bangladesh will be signed today.“I believe, it would help establish deeper cooperation between businesses of our two countries,” she said.The premier said the relation between Bangladesh and Sweden dates back to early 70s, during the time of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.She said Swedish people and government, led by Prime Minister Ulf Palme, expressed solidarity with Bangladesh`s Liberation War in 1971 and recognized independent Bangladesh on the 4th February in 1972 as one of the first few European countries.After that the relations grew strength to strength and today, Bangladesh-Sweden relationship is deeper and stronger than ever before, she said, adding this is the time to unlock full potential of our relations.The prime minister hoped that today`s event will give further impetus to trade and investment relation, help the two countries to achieve their common goals.“I believe, our two business communities utilized the opportunity to sharing views and experiences, exchanging information and ideas and conveying what you can offer to each other,” she said.Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh is a success story in the readymade garment sector and it`s now the 2nd largest garment exporter in the world.Like the RMG sector, she said, other sectors are making significant progress as well.“Our pharmaceutical products are now being exported to 83 countries, including the USA. We are fast emerging as a major global hub for high quality, low-cost generic medicines, including Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients,” she said.Sheikh Hasina said the knowledge industry, ICT and related sectors are also expanding rapidly. Shipbuilding is another fast growing industry in Bangladesh, by making world-class light to medium sized oceangoing vessels, she said.Source: BSS