Published: 05:57 PM, 11 July 2019
At a roundtable meeting with private sector representatives, she laid emphasis on knowledge sharing and introducing other countries’ experiences regarding digital financial inclusion.
“The meeting was all about digital financial inclusion of RMG (ready-made garment). She’s well aware of our e-wallet concept,” President of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Rubana Huq told UNB after the meeting.
The BGMEA chief said the meeting was to align all stakeholders. “I requested her to support us with regard to knowledge sharing and she instantly agreed to introduce us to other countries’ experiences with digital inclusion.”
The meeting stressed bringing all the RMG workers into digital transaction system through establishing a system in the sector.
Queen Maxima also held a series of meetings with Governor of the Bangladesh Bank Fazle Kabir, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar and others.
On Wednesday, the Dutch queen said financial inclusion can empower women and accelerate Bangladesh’s progress and noted significant progress made so far in the country.
“Financial inclusion has increased from 31 percent in 2014 to 50 percent in 2017 and so this is actually very exciting,” said Queen Maxima mentioning that she is excited with Bangladesh’s progress during the two and half years from her last visit.
Queen Maxima, who is visiting Bangladesh at the invitation of the government, will leave Dhaka on Friday.
Queen Maxima arrived here on Tuesday evening to promote people’s access to financial services and see the financial inclusion progress in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is currently developing a national strategy to improve people's access to financial services.
Queen Maxima, who was appointed UNSGSA in 2009, visited Bangladesh in her capacity as UNSGSA in November 2015.
In her capacity, she advises the UN Secretary-General and works worldwide to make safe and affordable financial services available to all, including low-income groups and small and medium-sized enterprises.
She has been honorary patron of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) since 2011.