Dutch Queen Máxima in Dhaka

In her capacity as the UN Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA), Dutch Queen Máxima arrived here on Monday morning on a three-day visit.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Atiur Rahman and other senior officials received her at the Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after her arrival at about 8:25am.

The visit, at the invitation of Bangladesh government, is part of Queen Máxima’s global efforts to raise awareness and foster action towards financial inclusion for everyone, according to UNDP press release.

Queen Máxima was appointed UNSGSA in 2009. In this capacity, the UNSGSA advocates for advancing the financial inclusion agenda focusing in particular on financially excluded people and small businesses.

During her stay in Bangladesh, the UNSGSA is scheduled to meet President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman, as well as other senior officials of the government, development partners, members of the civil society and the private sector.

Besides, the UNSGSA will visit several locations outside Dhaka to explore the experiences and needs of low-income customers such as garment workers who are paid digitally, a female entrepreneur who has built her business with the help of financial services, and with clients and staff of banking agents and mobile money operations.

The UNSGSA will also be meeting representatives of the banking and microfinance sectors.

Access to financial services is an important tool to reduce poverty, boost economic development, empower women and achieve other development goals as acknowledged in the recently adopted 2030 sustainable development agenda.

Building on Bangladesh’s significant efforts, the visit will focus on various priorities including the strengthening of the microfinance sector and advancing mobile financial services for financially excluded populations and SMEs.

Máxima has also been honorary patron of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion since 2011.