Dhaka:Bangladesh has proposed a series of initiatives aimed at enhancing trade, investment, agriculture, energy, and technology collaboration with China's Yunnan Province. These proposals include the establishment of a direct road link from Chattogram through Myanmar to Kunming.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir presented these proposals during a meeting with a high-level delegation from Yunnan Province. The meeting took place at the Commerce Ministry Secretariat, with the delegation led by Yunnan Executive Vice Governor Zhao Junmin.
The commerce minister emphasized the potential benefits of a 1,200-kilometer road network connecting Chattogram, Myanmar, and Kunming. Such connectivity could enable the transportation of goods within approximately 24 hours, significantly reducing time and costs while strengthening regional trade and supply chains.
Muktadir highlighted Yunnan as a promising market for Bangladesh, citing the potential to increase exports by leveraging geographical proximity. He also stressed the importance of quickly operationalizing proposed bonded warehouse and exhibition facilities in Yunnan to facilitate Bangladeshi product entry into the province's market of 46.4 million people.
The meeting revealed that bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Yunnan surpassed 1.3 billion yuan in 2025. Zhao Junmin noted that Bangladesh was the first South Asian country to benefit from Yunnan's special trade facilitation policy, which includes bonded warehouse and customs-related facilities for Bangladeshi products that will soon be operational.
A venue in Yunnan has been designated for displaying Bangladeshi products, following an agreement between Yunnan's commerce department and the Bangladesh Export Promotion Bureau. Zhao urged Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to take advantage of these facilities.
Discussions also covered the expansion of direct cargo air connectivity, opening up opportunities for exporting various Bangladeshi products such as jute, leather goods, and agricultural items to Yunnan, and importing flowers, fertilizer, and animal feed.
The commerce minister proposed establishing a joint research center to enhance the quality and productivity of Bangladesh's jute and called for greater institutional cooperation in energy, e-commerce, and technology. Muktadir invited Chinese investors, particularly women entrepreneurs from Yunnan, to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh.
He also requested Yunnan's assistance in developing a modern park in Sylhet, inspired by Kunming's parks. Zhao Junmin welcomed the proposals and expressed Yunnan's interest in further cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity, and other areas.
The meeting was attended by Commerce Ministry Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan, Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen, and senior officials from the Commerce Ministry and the Chinese Embassy.