Swedish Crown Princess Victoria will visit Bangladesh from 18 to 21 March in her capacity as the UNDP goodwill ambassador to promote and observe initiatives for achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

This would the first official mission for Victoria since her appointment as UNDP goodwill ambassador in October last year.

Victoria will be accompanied by Sweden's Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell and the visit will include meetings with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, senior government officials, young students, representatives from the UN system as well as entrepreneurs and business leaders.

The crown princess will also take part in field visits to witness firsthand the positive impact of inclusive digital development on poverty reduction in rural Bangladesh. She would explore UNDP-government backed initiatives where women and young entrepreneurs are leading efforts to mitigate climate change impact in vulnerable areas.

"From being one of the least developed countries in the world, Bangladesh has undergone significant economic and social development in recent decades. We’ve seen reductions in extreme poverty, strengthening of women’s rights and important advancements in areas such as climate adaptation, disaster risk management and inclusive digitalization,” says Ulrika Modéer, UN assistant secretary-general and director of external relations and advocacy at UNDP who will accompany the Crown Princess during the visit.

“At the same time, Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable countries to both natural disasters and climate change and several development challenges remain. The crown princess' visit is a unique opportunity to raise awareness about Bangladesh’s development journey and strengthen partnerships towards a resilient and inclusive future.”

“Crown Princess Victoria has a long and strong commitment to sustainability, poverty eradication, climate action and equality. We are honoured to welcome the crown princess to UNDP in Bangladesh and showcase our efforts to promote locally led development models that contribute effectively towards a greener, more resilient, and inclusive future for all.”, says UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative, Stefan Liller.

As the UNDP goodwill ambassador, the crown princess plays a key role in increasing awareness and engagement for the Sustainable Development Goals and a sustainable future where no one is left behind.

The UN's support for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh will also be highlighted during her visit.