Dhaka: Lithuania could serve as a gateway for Bangladeshi products and services to the wider European Union (EU) market, Lithuanian non-resident Ambassador to Bangladesh Diana Mickeviciene said today. She made the remarks during a meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the ambassador mentioned Lithuania's upcoming EU presidency in June-July 2027, highlighting that her country could facilitate access to the EU market for specific Bangladeshi products requiring registration, including pharmaceuticals and services. During the meeting, Shama emphasized the importance of strengthening Bangladesh-Lithuania bilateral relations, particularly through enhanced trade, investment, and economic cooperation.
The state minister urged Lithuania to import more Bangladeshi products, such as readymade garments, textiles, pharmaceuticals, biodegradable jute and jute products, leather goods, agro-products, furniture, plastic goods, and ships. Highlighting Bangladesh's investment potential, she invited Lithuanian investment in apparel, leather, light engineering, agro-processing, petroleum, renewable energy, information technology, and waste management.
The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation in information technology, financial technology (FinTech), e-governance, cybersecurity, e-registration, e-transportation, transport digitisation, artificial intelligence, and high-tech medical device systems. The Lithuanian ambassador highlighted her country's expertise and potential in these areas and expressed interest in expanding cooperation and partnership with Bangladesh.
Recalling the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Lithuania in 1992, Shama called for widening mutually beneficial cooperation across all possible sectors. The discussions also covered education, demographic dividend, manpower and employment opportunities, human mobility and migration, visa facilitation, women's empowerment, sports and culture, as well as deeper engagement in international organisations.
Both sides underscored the importance of high-level visits, exchanges of business delegations, collaboration between business chambers, knowledge and technology sharing, youth and student exchanges, cultural exchanges, tourism cooperation, and wider people-to-people contacts. The ambassador also stressed the role of the EU-Bangladesh Business Forum, compliance with existing frameworks for business and legal and regular migration, and the potential for using Lithuania's regional connectivity in the Baltic region and beyond to unlock untapped opportunities for deeper economic ties.