Diplomatic Desk:
Emphasis has been placed on building a secure, inclusive and innovative digital ecosystem to ensure sustainable economic growth and modern public services. To this end, discussions were held on further strengthening digital cooperation between Bangladesh and the European Union (EU).
The ‘EU-Bangladesh Digital Cooperation Roundtable’ was recently held under the joint chairmanship of Sweden and the European Union at the ICT Tower in Dhaka. Various government institutions, development partners, technical experts and representatives of the private sector participated in it. The meeting discussed the next steps in Bangladesh’s digital transformation and the possibilities of cooperation in this regard.
The discussions focused on issues such as digital infrastructure and trusted networks, digital trust, information and artificial intelligence (AI), connectivity and inclusion, and private sector participation and innovation.
Emphasis was placed on building a secure, stable and interconnected digital system in the field of digital infrastructure and trusted networks. In addition, the need to create a strong digital trust environment through cybersecurity, data protection and responsible AI management was highlighted.
Importance was also given to delivering digital services and connectivity to remote and vulnerable populations in the country. In this regard, the possibility of further expanding cooperation under the European Union’s ‘Global Gateway’ strategy was discussed.
The meeting also emphasized investment in the digital sector, entrepreneurship development and strengthening public-private partnerships. The need to increase cooperation between government institutions and the private sector to make digital transformation more effective and sustainable was highlighted.
Swedish Ambassador to Bangladesh Nicolas Weeks participated in the discussion. He highlighted the importance of trusted digital infrastructure, rights-based governance and strong public-private partnerships for Bangladesh’s digital future.
The stakeholders believe that if the ongoing dialogue between Bangladesh and ‘Team Europe’ can be transformed into practical cooperation and effective initiatives, the country’s digital economy, public services and innovation sectors will be further strengthened.
