The European Union plans to make large investments in infrastructure development and green technology to help Bangladesh's smooth transition from the LDC status.

Traditionally, the EU has been focused on development projects in education, health, food security, and governance. Now, as Bangladesh has grown economically and Bangladesh's position in the world is improving rapidly, EU's relation with Bangladesh is also changing.

"We are becoming a lot more focused on political issues, regional issues, and issues of mutual interests. We are also deepening cooperation in practical terms on the issues like ocean governance, climate change and renewable energy," EU Ambassador Charles Whiteley said in an interview with The Daily Star on Sunday, ahead of the 50 years of diplomatic relations being celebrated today.

Under the Global Gateway Initiative, EU's new approach of international corporation, Bangladesh is one of only a handful of countries that will have flagship projects on renewable energy.

Through this, the EU will be able to blend its development assistance with large loans from the European Investment Bank.

"We hope to leverage in terms of grants and loans -- around 400 million euros -- to support the development of wind and solar energy in Bangladesh. We expect the signing to happen very soon," said the diplomat.

This will also support Bangladesh's goal of having 40 percent renewable energy by 2041 from only six percent now. The EU is also looking at the transport sector, for example, metro rail, he added.

The Global Gateway Initiative is not like some other big players who provide funding for infrastructure where there's a certain tendency towards making sure that their own companies get the contracts and their own workers implement the projects, he said, adding that EU's move would be a lot more values-based.

Bangladesh exports goods worth $24 billion to the EU and enjoys the GSP facility, which will expire by 2029. Then, there will be a new scheme called GSP Plus with tougher conditions.

Whiteley said GSP Plus gives the same benefits as Bangladesh enjoys now, but with a few more conditions, including the requirement for ratifying and implementing 32 international conventions on social, environmental, human rights, and labour rights.

Bangladesh has ratified the conventions and now the work should begin in earnest to be ready by 2029.

"If Bangladesh makes progress on this front, then the duty-free and free access will remain."

Also, the export basket needs diversification. It is happening but needs extra push through deregulation in terms of attracting foreign direct investment and making the atmosphere more business-friendly.

He said the new areas of exports can be logistics or services, including ICT services, bicycles, pharmaceuticals, plastics, jute and jute products.

Whiteley said Bangladeshi is one of the leaders in terms of green factory, especially the garment industry. However, other industries need the same kind of approach, for example, brick kilns and the construction business.

On labour reforms, the envoy said there is a need for continued implementation regarding reforms to the labour laws and trade unions. There is still the need for making changes and time is ticking.

Some of the deadlines for implementing changes have now passed, he added, lauding the progress already made.

The EU last year launched Talent Partnership for creating legal pathways for migration. Asked about it, Whiteley said it will allow educated Bangladeshis to go to Europe and live and work, learn more and then come back to Bangladesh.

At the moment, the EU is identifying sectors that need workers from Bangladesh, but the exact time of its operations has not been decided yet, said the EU ambassador.

He lauded Bangladesh's Indo-Pacific Outlook, saying a lot of what Bangladesh put in, chimes very well with how the EU sees this issue.

"Talking about the freedom of navigation, freedom of overflight, and respect for the law of the sea, I mean, grounding your strategy and outlook in international law is always a good starting point. And let's be frank. Not everybody bases their foreign policy on international law."

On Rohingya repatriation, Whiteley said the Rohingyas can only go back when it is safe for them to return in a voluntary manner.

He said the UNHCR is not involved in the latest move, and it needs to be monitored very carefully as the Rohingyas who visited the model villages in Rakhine said they won't go back unless they get citizenship in Myanmar.