United News of Bangladesh

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is set to depart Davos for Dhaka on Friday night (Switzerland time) via Zurich International Airport, concluding his busy four-day schedule at the World Economic Forum's annual meeting, which included 47 formal engagements. Dr Yunus had four meetings with Heads of Government/State, four meetings with Minister-level dignitaries and ten meetings with heads/top executives of UN or similar organizations, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB on Friday evening. The Chief Adviser had ten meetings with CEOs/high-level business persons, attended nine WEF-hosted programs and four formal dinner and lunch events. Dr Yunus also had eight media engagements on the sidelines of the WEF annual meeting in addition to joining two other events. Saudi firm interested to transform Matarbari into regional mega port Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam will see him off at the Zurich International Airport on Friday night (Switzerland time). Dr Yunus will reach Dhaka Saturday evening (January 25 Dhaka time). Chief Adviser's Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs (Senior Secretary) Lamiya Morshed, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Secretary (West) M Riaz Hamidullah, among others, accompanied Dr Yunus. Dr Yunus arrived in Zurich, Switzerland on Tuesday afternoon to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. The annual meeting brought together world leaders to address key global and regional challenges. These included responding to geopolitical shocks, stimulating growth to improve living standards, and stewarding just and inclusive energy transition. WTO to support Bangladesh's LDC graduation, its DG tells Dr Yunus  This year's meeting convened under the theme 'Collaboration for the Intelligent Age' and the programme will be oriented around five distinct but highly interconnected thematic priorities: Some 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, and 350 governmental leaders, including 60 heads of states and governments, from all key regions attended the event.

President Donald Trump, in a speech to the World Economic Forum on Thursday, encouraged global leaders to benefit from lower taxes by bringing manufacturing to the U.S., while warning that failure to do so would result in tariffs, reports AP. Speaking via video from the White House to the annual summit in Davos, Switzerland, on his third day in office, Trump highlighted his series of executive actions since his inauguration and asserted that he had a “massive mandate” from the American people to drive change. He presented a combination of incentives and penalties to stimulate private investment in the U.S. Trump's mass deportation plan could overwhelm U.S. Immigrant Detention System “Come manufacture your products in America, and we will offer you some of the lowest tax rates of any nation on earth,” Trump said. “However, if you choose not to produce your goods in America — which is your decision — then, simply put, you will be subject to tariffs. These tariffs, in varying amounts, will channel hundreds of billions, even trillions of dollars, into our treasury to boost the economy and reduce debt during my administration.” Trump also mentioned that he had spoken with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince on Wednesday, revealing that the kingdom is planning to invest $600 billion in the U.S. He added that he would request Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to increase this amount to $1 trillion — a comment that elicited some laughter from the audience in Davos. Saudi to invest $600 billion in US: Crown prince to Trump In his introduction, Davos founder Klaus Schwab remarked that Trump’s return and his agenda had “been a focal point of our discussions this week” and extended an invitation for Trump to attend the summit in person next year.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus continued his broader engagement with the global leaders here at the 2025 annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, with over a dozen of engagements planned for Thursday, the third hectic day since his arrival in the Swiss city on January 21. The Forum has brought together governments, businesses and civil society members to improve the state of the world. Chief Adviser's Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, SDGs Affairs Principal Coordinator (Senior Secretary) Lamiya Morshed, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam, Bangladesh's Permanent Representative in Geneva Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam and Secretary (West) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs M Riaz Hamidullah,among others, are accompanying the Chief Adviser at the WEF. Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, CEO, DP World; Sir Nick Clegg, President, Global Affairs of Meta Platforms Inc; Agnes Callamard, Secretary-General of Amnesty International and Robert Maersk Uggla, Chair of A.P. Moller – Maersk in addition to top executives of the global organisations are likely to meet the Chief Adviser on Thursday, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. Thomas Eymond-Laritaz, founder & CEO of HIGHGATE (Strategic Advisory Firm), Hugh Evans, CEO, Global Citizens and Prof. Klaus Schwab, founder, World Economic Forum are also scheduled to meet the Chief Adviser, Azad said. Global media outlets - Reuters, Financial Times and CNBC International anchor Tania Bryer will interview the Chief Adviser. Over 50 heads of state and government including Nobel Laureate Dr Yunus gathered at the WEF that is taking place from January 20-25. The Summit is being held under the theme of “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age” and it welcomed close to 3,000 attendees from over 130 countries. It was a massive highway robbery, Dr Yunus tells Lagarde seeking support for recovery of stolen money Other participants world leaders include US President Donald J. Trump (via live video link); Javier Milei, President of Argentina; Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament; Karin Keller-Sutter, President of the Swiss Confederation: Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia; Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan; Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister of Belgium; Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; Mostafa Madbouli, Prime Minister of Egypt; Abdulatif Rashid, President of Iraq; Simon Harris, Taoiseach of Ireland; Dick Schoof, Prime Minister of the Netherlands; Dina Ercilia Boluarte, President of Peru; Andrzej Duda, President of Poland; Aeksandar Vučić, President of Serbia; Tharman Shanmugaratnam, President of Singapore; Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden; Asaad Hassan Al Shibani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Syria; Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand; Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, President of Somalia; and António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, according to the WEF information. Amid ongoing conflict, economic uncertainty and rapid technological advancements, heads of state gathered in Davos for the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting 2025. The gathering comes as uncertainty looms large over the international system, with new leaders coming into office and conflict persisting in multiple regions. Dr Yunus' visionary leadership to help transform Bangladesh: Italian opera singer In Davos, world leaders as well as top private sector voices and leading civil society experts are meeting to drive dialogue and catalyse durable solutions to shared challenges. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen delivered a special address during the opening ceremony of the Annual Meeting. "The world today is still nearly as connected as ever," she stated. "But it has also started fracturing along new lines." Von der Leyen urged private and public sector leaders working together, noting that it is in "no one's interest to break the bonds of the global economy." In a special address, Chinese Vice-Premier Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang called on governments to uphold the institutions of multilateralism and warned against the increasing use of protectionist polices. "Trade wars have no winners," he stated. "We need to jointly uphold and practice true multilateralism," Ding said. "Multilateralism is the right way to maintain world peace and promote human progress. It is the golden key to solving the difficulties and challenges facing the world." Olaf Scholz, Federal Chancellor of Germany In a special address, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz detailed efforts to strengthen Europe as the global geopolitical landscape gets increasingly complex. "Predictability, honesty and reliability are having an increasingly difficult time," he said, adding that at the same time the world is becoming more "complicated and complex." Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa In a special address, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa detailed the emerging opportunities for Africa, noting that the African Union's entry into the G20 marked a major milestone for global cooperation. "Cooperation has been one of the key markers of human development, touching on many aspect of human life," Ramaphosa said. "Cooperation is the bedrock of human civilization." Dr Yunus engages with global leaders, seeks support to bring back stolen money In a special address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Europe to support Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia and bolster its defense alliances. "Europe needs to compete for the top spot in priorities, alliances and technological development," he said. Zelenskyy added that when it comes to Europe's security, the continent cannot "rely on goodwill from a few capitals." In a conversation with Provost Gillian Tett of King's College, University of Cambridge, Prime Minister of Viet Nam Pham Minh Chinh called for a new era of political stability — a "smart era", he said. "We need to ensure social progress and equality that leaves no one behind," Chinh said. In a conversation with World Economic Forum President and CEO Børge Brende, Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani discussed the latest developments in the Middle East. Topics of discussion included political shifts in Lebanon, the Gaza ceasefire deal and the "new chapter" for Syria following the fall of the former regime. In conversation with World Economic Forum Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim explored the latest political developments in Southeast Asia and the pressing issues facing the global economy. "We focus on the economic fundamentals," Ibrahim said when speaking about collaboration between Southeast Asian countries. In a conversation with CNN host Fareed Zakaria, Iranian Vice President for Strategic Affairs Javad Zarif spoke about the latest developments in the Middle East and the ongoing conflicts. "We can move forward based on opportunities, rather than based on threats," he said while speaking about efforts to reduce tensions across the region. In a special address, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez discussed the impact of social media platforms on democracy and societal polarization. "We know that far from bringing humanity together and 'empowering the people', these platforms have resulted in a concentration of power and wealth in the hands of just a few," he said. "Like the ocean, they should be protected and managed."

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus began a hectic second day at the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Wednesday, with a packed schedule of at least 14 meetings planned as part of his extensive engagements with global leaders. Dr Yunus had his first meeting on the day with the Head of the Federal Chancellery and Federal Minister for Special Tasks, Federal Chancellery of Germany, Wolfgang Schmidt, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told UNB. CA Yunus calls for putting global focus back on Rohingya crisis as it gets complicated Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs Lamiya Morshed and Secretary (West) M Riaz Hamidullah were, among others, present at the meeting held on the sidelines of the WEF annual meeting. The Chief Adviser also held separate meetings with King Philippe, Kingdom of Belgium, and Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of Thailand, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, DPS Azad said. Meeting with Sheikha Latifa Bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, United Arab Emirates, is among the key engagements of Dr Yunus scheduled for today (Wednesday). Dr Yunus holds high-level meetings in Davos Dr Yunus arrived here on Tuesday afternoon to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos and had six meetings with the global leaders since his arrival. Earlier, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam received the Chief Adviser at the Zurich International Airport upon his arrival. Chief Adviser's Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi, Principal Coordinator on SDGs Affairs (Senior Secretary) Lamiya Morshed, Chief Adviser's Press Secretary Shafiqul Alam and Secretary (West) M Riaz Hamidullah are, among others, accompany Dr Yunus. The annual meeting 2025 brought global leaders to address key global and regional challenges. Talks with Dr Yunus: Finland President seeks Global South's proactive roles in major global affairs These include responding to geopolitical shocks, stimulating growth to improve living standards, and stewarding just and inclusive energy transition. This year's meeting convened under the theme 'Collaboration for the Intelligent Age' and the programme will be oriented around five distinct but highly interconnected thematic priorities: The meeting brings together nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, and 350 governmental leaders, including 60 heads of states and governments, from all key regions.

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus began his extensive engagements here on Tuesday with his first meeting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz who conveyed to Dr Yunus that Germany would do its best to support Bangladesh in its transition to democracy. "You can be rest assured that we will support you," the German Chancellor said when he met Dr Yunus on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum annual meeting in the Swiss city. The Chief Adviser briefed him on the reform agenda of the interim government and discussed issues of mutual interest. Dr Yunus invited more German investment in Bangladesh. "We can be your factory," he said. He also sought Scholz's support in creating a safe zone for Rohingyas in Myanmar's Rakhine State under the supervision of the United Nations, said Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder. Beijing extends loan repayment period, considers Dhaka's request for interest rate cut The Chief Adviser said he was leading a consensus commission in an effort to facilitate consensus building among the political parties on major reform reports submitted by six commissions. He said after the consensus is reached, the political parties will sign a ‘July Charter’ that will uphold the democratic spirits of the student-led uprising in July and August. The two leaders spoke about a wide range of issues, including the circumstances that led to the July uprising, Bangladesh's relationship with its neighbours, the Rohingya crisis, and the security situation in Myanmar. The Chief Adviser explained to the German chancellor how young people joined the July uprising to bring an end to years of misrule in Bangladesh. A student as young as 12 years old wrote a letter to his mother before joining the uprising and embraced martyrdom, the Chief Adviser told Scholz. Prof Yunus called for greater business links between the two nations and urged him to send a team of German businessmen to Dhaka to explore business opportunities in Bangladesh. He said that Bangladesh still holds the idea of SAARC and would continue its endeavour to revive the platform. The Chief Adviser also explained to the German Chancellor how hydroelectric power from Nepal can benefit multiple South Asian countries, helping all in their transition to renewable energy. Malaysia extends repatriation programme for undocumented Bangladeshis The Chief Adviser also met Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum and discussed issues of mutual interest. Dr Yunus arrived at Zurich International Airport, Switzerland in the afternoon to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos where he started engaging with the global leaders on pressing issues in addition to his bilateral meetings. Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the UN in Geneva Ambassador Tareq Md Ariful Islam received the Chief Adviser at the airport upon his arrival. Dhaka, Beijing discuss economic partnership expansion The Chief Adviser and his delegation members arrived at the Zurich International Airport at 12:27pm (Zurich time) by an Emirates flight. The Chief Adviser is scheduled to hold a number of meetings on the first day, including his joining in the opening dinner at Kurpark Village.

This week, the picturesque Swiss town of Davos becomes the epicenter of global policy discussions as world leaders convene to address a plethora of critical issues. High on their agenda are two ongoing major wars, a burgeoning shipping crisis, and the ever-increasing threat of cyber-attacks. Complicating these discussions, however, is the staggering $88.1 trillion global debt burden, a figure reported by CNN. This unprecedented surge, predominantly fueled by public borrowing during the pandemic, now significantly undermines governments’ capabilities to tackle existing and emerging global crises effectively. The soaring debt servicing costs not only strain public services, already reeling from successive budget cuts, but also limit efforts to combat climate change and provide adequate care for aging populations. UN council to hold first meeting on potential threats of artificial intelligence to global peace The risk looms larger as governments might find themselves unable to borrow more to fulfill existing obligations and fund essential services, says the report. Former Bank of England’s monetary policy committee member, Michael Saunders, warned that a government unable to finance its debt could face abrupt and painful spending cuts or tax hikes, hampering its response to future shocks, it also said. As the world faces a risky year of elections with half the global population heading to the polls, there is little incentive for belt-tightening among incumbent administrations. The prospect of new leaders implementing ambitious tax and spending plans raises concerns about the sustainability of already soaring levels of public debt, the report said. In the United States, record levels of public borrowing have become a major point of contention between Republicans and Democrats, affecting national budget negotiations and jeopardizing the functioning of federal agencies, it said. China warns of artificial intelligence risks, calls for beefed-up national security measures The implications of mounting debt are not limited to economic challenges. Political polarization has already impacted the credit rating of the United States, with agencies like Fitch downgrading its rating. Moody’s has also warned about the potential removal of the country’s last remaining perfect rating. Amidst these challenges, the increased cost of servicing debt, driven by rising interest rates, is diverting significant funds away from essential public services. In the UK, the Labour Party has scaled back green spending plans due to concerns about adding to the country's debt burden, the report further stated. As the global economy grapples with these debt challenges and slowing economic growth, some experts, including Raghuram Rajan, former governor of the Reserve Bank of India, suggest that artificial intelligence (AI) could hold the key to a relatively painless recovery. They hope for discussions at Davos to shed light on potential solutions, emphasizing the transformative power of an AI-driven productivity boom to reshape the world’s economic fortunes. UN chief warns of risks of artificial intelligence

The world is in a “sorry state" because of myriad “interlinked” challenges including climate change and Russia's war in Ukraine that are “piling up like cars in a chain reaction crash,” the U.N. chief said at the World Economic Forum's meeting Wednesday. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered his gloomy message on the second day of the elite gathering of world leaders and corporate executives in the Swiss ski resort of Davos. Sessions took a grim turn when news broke of a helicopter crash in Ukraine that killed 16 people, including Ukraine’s interior minister and other officials. Forum President Borge Brende requested 15 seconds of silence and Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska dabbed teary eyes, calling it “another very sad day,” then telling attendees that “we can also change this negative situation for the better." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was scheduled to address the conclave by video link as the Ukrainian delegation that includes his wife pushes for more aid, including weapons, from international allies to fight Russia. Speaking shortly before Zelenskyy is German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is facing pressure to send tanks to help Ukraine and is the only leader to attend Davos from the Group of 7 biggest economies. Guterres said the “gravest levels of geopolitical division and mistrust in generations” are undermining efforts to tackle global problems, which also include widening inequality, a cost-of-living crisis sparked by soaring inflation and an energy crunch, lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, supply-chain disruptions and more. He singled out climate change as an “existential challenge,” and said a global commitment to limit the Earth's temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius “is nearly going up in smoke.” Guterres, who has been one of the most outspoken world figures on climate change, referenced a recent study that found scientists at Exxon Mobil made remarkably accurate predictions about the effects of climate change as far back as the 1970s, even as the company publicly doubted that warming was real. Read more: Economic woes, war, climate change on tap for Davos meeting “We learned last week that certain fossil fuel producers were fully aware in the 1970s that their core product was baking our planet," he said in his speech. “Some in Big Oil peddled the big lie.” Critics have questioned the impact of the four-day meeting where politicians, CEOs and other leaders discuss the world’s problems — and make deals on the sidelines — but where concrete action is harder to measure. Environmentalists, for example, slam the carbon-spewing private jets that ferry in bigwigs to an event that prioritizes the battle against climate change. On the second day, government officials, corporate titans, academics and activists were attending dozens of panel sessions on topics covering the metaverse, environmental greenwashing and artificial intelligence. Ukraine has taken center stage as the anniversary of the war nears, with Zelenska pressing attendees to do more to help her country at a time when Russia’s invasion is leaving children dying and the world struggling with food insecurity. The crash added more tragedy after a Russian missile strike hit an apartment building over the weekend in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro, killing dozens of people in one of the deadliest single attacks in months. But Ukraine is gaining additional international support: Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said Tuesday that the Netherlands plans to “join” the U.S. and Germany’s efforts to train and arm Ukraine with advanced Patriot defense systems. The German government has faced mounting pressure to make another significant step forward in military aid to Ukraine by agreeing to deliver Leopard 2 battle tanks. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to visit Berlin this week and then host a meeting of allies at Ramstein Air Base in western Germany. Guterres was not optimistic that the conflict, being waged less than 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from Davos, could end soon. “There will be an end of this war. There is the end of everything. But I do not see the end of the war in the immediate future,” he said. Deep historical differences between Russia and Ukraine make it more difficult to find a solution based on international law and that respects territorial integrity, he added. Read more: Global economic growth will slow down in 2023, but will pick up in 2024: IMF chief "For the moment, I don’t think that we have a chance to promote or to mediate a serious negotiation to achieve peace in the short term," Guterres said.

The World Economic Forum is back with its first winter meetup since 2020 in the Swiss Alpine town of Davos, where leaders are seeking to bridge political divisions in a polarized world, buttress a hobbling economy and address concerns about a climate change — among many other things. Sessions will take up issues as diverse as the future of fertilizers, the role of sports in society, the state of the COVID-19 pandemic and much more. Nearly 600 CEOs and more than 50 heads of state or government are expected, but it's never clear how much concrete action emerges from the elite event. Here’s what to watch as the four-day talkfest and related deal-making get underway in earnest Tuesday: WHO’S COMING? Back in the snows for the first time since the pandemic and just eight months after a springtime 2022 session, the event will host notables like European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, U.S. climate envoy John Kerry, and the new presidents of South Korea, Colombia and the Philippines. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He addresses the gathering Tuesday, a day before his first meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, in Zurich. Yellen will skip Davos. Who else is missing? U.S. President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron. Russian President Vladimir Putin, of course: Envoys from his country has been shunned because of his war in Ukraine. Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska was on her way to Davos and will speak Tuesday, while her husband, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will give a remote address Wednesday and other officials from Ukraine are appearing on panels. Read more: Business trusted most in a more polarized world, report says Outside the main convention center, a themed venue known as Ukraine House is hosting a concert, photo exhibits, seminars, cocktail events and other meetings this week to drum up support for Ukraine’s efforts to drive out Russian forces. ECONOMIC FOCUS The slowdown in the global economy will be a major theme at Davos, with officials ranging from International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva and European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde speaking in sessions. Inflation soared as the world reopened from the pandemic and Russia invaded Ukraine, driving up food and energy prices, and though it has started to slow in major economies like the U.S. and those in Europe, inflation is still painfully high. Georgieva said in an IMF blog post Monday that divides between nations — the theme at Davos this year is “Cooperation in a Fragmented World” — are putting the global economy at risk by leaving “everyone poorer and less secure.” Georgieva urged strengthening trade, helping vulnerable countries deal with debt and ramping up climate action. PRIORITIZING CLIMATE A major climate theme emerging from the forum’s panel sessions is the energy transition from fossil fuels to clean energy. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore will be talking about decarbonization, efforts to build clean energy infrastructure and ensure an equitable transition. It follows a strong year for the energy transition: Many countries passed incentives for renewable energy in 2022. One hot topic on the agenda — harnessing nuclear fusion — focuses on science that offers immense potential but is many decades away from a commercial rollout that could feed the world’s skyrocketing thirst for energy. Sessions on issues like adaptation to climate change and panels on deforestation, biodiversity and the future of environmental protection will give a greener hue to the gathering. CRITICAL VOICES The elite gathering is regularly skewered by critics who argue that attendees are too out-of-touch or profit- or power-minded to address the needs of common people and the planet. Throughout the week, critics and activists will be waiting outside the Davos conference center to try to hold decision-makers and business leaders to account. Read more: Robust leadership, political trust fortified Dhaka-Ankara economic, defence ties: Turan It started Sunday, when dozens of climate activists — some with clown makeup — braved snowfall to wave banners and chant slogans at the end of the Davos Promenade, a thoroughfare now lined with storefront logos of corporate titans like Accenture, Microsoft, Salesforce, Meta, as well as country “houses” that promote national interests. Greenpeace International also blasted use of corporate jets that ferry in bigwigs, saying such carbon-spewing transportation smacks of hypocrisy for an event touting its push for a greener world. It said over 1,000 private-jet flights arrived and departed airports serving Davos in May. Forum President Borge Brende acknowledged Sunday that some government leaders and CEOs fly in that way. "I think what is more important than that is to make sure we have agreements on how we, overall, move and push the envelope when it comes to the green agenda,” he said.

Bangladesh has discussed important bilateral issues with Switzerland, including the celebration of 50 years of bilateral ties between the countries, in Davos. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam had bilateral talks with Livia Leu, state secretary at the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, on the margins of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2022, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Monday. Also Read: Cosmos Dialogue on Bangladesh-Switzerland relations to be premiered Wednesday  Bangladesh and Switzerland established diplomatic ties in 1972 and have been strengthening and broadening the relations since then.    

Hopes are rising that a breakthrough in discussions on how to tax digital companies will emerge at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday.