Denmark and Bangladesh are two countries located in different regions of the world but share common interests in promoting bilateral relations, trade, investment, and addressing global issues such as the Rohingya crisis.

Denmark, a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe, is known for its high standard of living, advanced welfare system, and commitment to sustainability and green energy. With a strong economy and a focus on innovation, Denmark is a key player in various sectors such as renewable energy, shipping, agriculture, and design. The country is also a member of the European Union and plays an active role in international affairs, including humanitarian aid and peacekeeping efforts.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, is a South Asian country known for its vibrant culture, rich history, and rapid economic growth. Despite facing challenges such as poverty, overpopulation, and natural disasters, Bangladesh has made significant progress in areas like garment manufacturing, agriculture, and information technology. The country is also a major hub for textile exports and has been attracting increasing foreign investment in recent years.

When it comes to bilateral relations, Denmark and Bangladesh have maintained a positive and friendly relationship over the years, with a focus on trade, investment, development cooperation, and cultural exchange. Both countries have worked together on various initiatives to strengthen ties and promote mutual growth and prosperity.

The Rohingya crisis, a major humanitarian issue affecting the region, has been a topic of concern for both countries. Denmark and Bangladesh have collaborated with international partners to address the plight of Rohingya refugees and work towards finding a sustainable solution to the crisis.

Overall, Denmark and Bangladesh share a commitment to fostering cooperation, mutual understanding, and sustainable development, making them important partners in the global arena. Their shared interests and values provide a solid foundation for further collaboration and engagement in the years to come.

H.E. Mr Christian Brix Møller is currently serving as the Danish Ambassador to Bangladesh. With a strong academic background in political science, law, professional communication and leadership, Mr Møller has held several key roles within the Danish Foreign Ministry. He served as Deputy Director, Corporate Human Resources; Deputy Head of Mission at Embassy of Denmark in Hanoi; Deputy Director, Strategy, Policy and Quality Assurance, Danish Trade Council; Head of Section, Corporate Strategy and Planning Unit; First Secretary, Embassy of Denmark in Beijing; Head of Section, European Policy Department; Head of Section, Asia Department; and he was also a former Advisor for foreign, security and defence policy at the Danish Parliament.

Mr. Christian Brix Møller the sleek, sophisticated, and gregarious ambassador of Danish, spoke with Security World in an interview. The interview's snippets are listed below:

Denmark and Bangladesh have been strong partners for decades. Previously, mostly in development cooperation and in recent times, also in bilateral trade. In fact, Bangladesh has been Denmark’s – or “Danida’s - second largest development partner globally over the past 50 years, only after Tanzania. The long decades of development cooperation have set a solid foundation for understanding between the two countries which made it relatively easier to transition to trade and investments. However, the focus still remains very much on sustainable and green growth especially looking at the climate vulnerability that Bangladesh faces. The current state of bilateral relations between Denmark and Bangladesh is characterised by close cooperation in multiple sectors, including development, trade, climate change, and sustainable growth. 

Today, Denmark´s development initiatives in Bangladesh focus on a growth process that generates greener and better opportunities for more people. With respect to that, we have some notable initiatives for sustainable development in Bangladesh, including in the areas of locally- green technology, agriculture, water, sanitation and hygiene and decent work. Both countries also share a strong commitment to addressing climate change. Denmark has been assisting Bangladesh in building climate resilience through local adaptation and promoting sustainable development practices. 

We also enjoy strong trade relations with Bangladesh. Danish companies are investing in various sectors in Bangladesh, particularly in renewable energy and infrastructure, and, of course, there is growing trade volume when it comes to the RMG. For example, according to the BGMEA, Bangladesh´s export of apparel to DK grew by 16.21 % in 2023. Also, based on our figures, Denmark annually imports approx. 1.5 billion USD in RMG from Bangladesh, which I am quite certain is the highest per capita among all EU countries and also globally.  

Overall, as you can see, the relationship between Denmark and Bangladesh is multifaceted and dynamic, with a strong focus on sustainable development and economic cooperation and we hope to continue exploring and expanding this relationship further.

Energy is of course a big area of interest. You may know that there is a potential investment of USD 1.3 billion in off-shore wind energy generation. Which also means that there is a scope for building capacity in the public and private sector in reference to off-shore and perhaps also on-shore wind energy generation in the coming future, which would include transfer of technology and expertise. On the other hand, for renewable energy like solar and hydro, there could be availability of Danish technology – either direct or supportive – as Denmark is a forerunner of smart innovations for energy efficient applications.

Strong cooperation between Denmark and Bangladesh is also evident in the food and agriculture sector. Danish companies such as Arla have been in Bangladesh for over 60 years and is known in the market for its high quality and credibility. Another company, Co-Ro also recently launched a juice factory in Bangladesh, in collaboration with the well-established local conglomerate ACI. This joint venture will witness an investment of $4.5 million over the next two years. From a global perspective, Denmark has a strong presence in the dairy sector -- knowledge and technology transfer, good farm practices and efficient dairy production are some of the key areas Denmark and Bangladesh are working on together, both in the private and public sector. This is a growing area of work between the two countries, and we have a dedicated Food & Agriculture Advisory with the aim to establish more partnerships and offer a more comprehensive suite of services to assist Danish businesses to permeate the agriculture space in Bangladesh.

Sustainable development, as you have correctly mentioned, is another area of collaboration with high potential. To begin with, Bangladesh is the largest supplier of textile and apparel to Denmark and the EU. And hence, sustainability in the supply chain is highly important. Under a green partnership agreement our activities in sustainable development with Bangladesh includes (but is not limited to) sustainable sourcing, EU-compliant supply chains, transparency and traceability, knowledge exchange in waste management strategies, to name some. Besides, we also see high potential in partnership in sustainable and green infrastructure.

Various efforts and initiatives have been undertaken by both countries to enhance trade ties. Our Embassy Trade Council in Bangladesh facilitates trade dialogues and regular trade delegations and business forums enabling direct interactions between Danish and Bangladeshi businesses, helping to identify opportunities and establishing partnerships. The Trade Council also promotes investment in Bangladesh, highlighting the potential in sectors like renewable energy, infrastructure, and technology. Another impactful way of enhancing trade is by sharing expertise and technology in areas where Denmark has the strength and experience, such as renewable energy, agriculture and food processing, logistics including shipping, and pharmaceuticals, to name some. This is further amplified through training programs, technical assistance and investment to help Bangladesh transition to a greener supply chain, improving quality and value-addition of exports. At a higher level we have also reached a strong understanding with the Bangladesh government through the signing of the Sustainable and Green Framework Agreement which focuses on green political cooperation, circular economy, green business, finance and investment, all of which will contribute to increased trade between the two nations, both in terms of volume, quality and sustainability. These are some of the initiatives we have taken to strengthen the trade relationship between Denmark and Bangladesh, fostering economic growth and mutual benefits and we are also constantly brainstorming and innovating to do more!

If you ask me, I am actually pretty optimistic about the investment climate between Denmark and Bangladesh in the coming years. As I have mentioned earlier, there is significant interest among Danish investors to invest in sectors like renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, and food and agriculture. I can name a recent example, which is the opening of Arla´s UHT milk producing factory in Bangladesh with an investment of approximately 15 million Euros. I have also spoken of the potential USD 1.3 billion investment in off-shore wind energy in Bangladesh. Maersk/APMT is also investing about USD 400 million for constructing the Laldia container terminal at the Chittagong Port. There are many more examples, all of which are very promising!

However, one must also be cautiously optimistic, as the investment climate is likely to evolve based on several factors, including economic policies, bilateral relations, and global economic trends. We look for continued economic reforms and efforts to improve the ease of doing business to attract more Danish investments and also high-level FDI from Europe. Government initiatives to enhance infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and incentives for foreign investors will play a critical role. Moving ahead, Danish investments may target specific sectors in Bangladesh, such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, information and communication technology (ICT), and also health. But the variances in regulatory standards and compliance between the two countries must be reduced to remove obstacles to growing bilateral trade. 

I believe investment climate between Denmark and Bangladesh is definitely poised for growth, driven by mutual interests in sustainable development, but we must address challenges and leverage opportunities to realize the full potential of this relationship. 

Well as we know Denmark and Bangladesh have geographic and development differences, but I think we are all facing threats to human security that is brought by the negative impact of climate change --- needless to say some of us are more vulnerable than others. Denmark is facing rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions, which in no way comes close to the vulnerability faced by Bangladeshi people. But we are cognizant of the extent of the suffering of the most vulnerable communities in Bangladesh, especially those living by the coast. I have had the opportunity to visit Mongla and some of the climate vulnerable remote areas in Bangladesh and have seen first-hand how human security is being challenged. But I am happy to share that Demark has chosen to stand strong by Bangladesh in combatting these challenges, through increased financing of locally led climate adaptation programmes. Climate action is a global agenda and it is our collective responsibility --- so we are doing our best to work together to reduce the negative consequences for the people and undertake greener initiatives in line with our Sustainable and Green Framework Engagement.

You might find it interesting to learn that recently we have deliberately made a shift in Danish foreign policy. Our new strategy billed as ´pragmatic idealism´ focuses on less preaching and more listening. We have done that, because it was really a wake-up call for us, to realise a few years back, that two-thirds of the world’s population live in countries that are either supporting Russia or are neutral towards Russia’s illegal attack and invasion of Ukraine. As so we realize that we must relate to the world the way it actually is, and not as we wish it were. It is natural to have varied priorities and interests when it comes to regional and international issues, including security. Having that so, one of the major issues which can also be coined as a security matter Bangladesh is facing which is also an international concern, is the Rohingya crisis, hosting this community and the talks around repatriation. It is easy to preach what Bangladesh could and should do, but one must acknowledge the humanitarian role the country has played in hosting this extremely vulnerable population comprising mostly of children. Denmark has been and is providing substantial humanitarian assistance in this regard, and we hope to maintain a positive cooperation with Bangladesh going forward, including in security issues.