Yaound©: Bangladesh and South Korea held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14) to enhance trade cooperation and mutual investment. The meeting underscored the commitment of both nations to deepen economic ties and explore new avenues for collaboration.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Bangladeshi delegation was led by Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir, accompanied by Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman and other senior officials. The South Korean delegation was headed by Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo. During the discussions, Minister Muktadir highlighted the formation of a new government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in February 2026, following a participatory election. He emphasized the administration’s trade policies, market diversification strategies, and the ongoing pursuit of Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) as Bangladesh prepares for its LDC graduation.
Minister Muktadir informed his counterpart that Bangladesh has already concluded an EPA with Japan and is actively negotiating FTAs and Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreements (CEPA) with several countries, including South Korea and Singapore. He also expressed Bangladesh’s interest in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), citing the country’s strategic geographical location and large consumer market as mutually beneficial factors.
The Bangladeshi Minister invited further South Korean investment, particularly in the Readymade Garments (RMG) sector, highlighting Bangladesh’s attractive business environment for foreign investors. South Korean Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo congratulated the new Bangladesh government and characterized the country as a promising economy. He expressed interest in visiting Bangladesh soon and suggested that the Bangladesh-Japan EPA could serve as a model for ongoing bilateral trade negotiations.
Minister Yeo noted that while current trade volumes are below potential, there is substantial room for growth in sectors such as shipbuilding, steel, manufacturing, and investment. Both sides agreed to maintain regular communication at ministerial and expert levels to ensure tangible progress. The meeting concluded with a reaffirmed commitment from both nations to strengthen bilateral relations and build a mutually beneficial trade and investment partnership.