Written by The Banking Post
New Zealand has proposed launching negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh, signalling a push to deepen trade and investment ties between the two countries.
The proposal came during a high-level meeting between the two sides on the sidelines of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé.
Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir highlighted Bangladesh’s focus on expanding global trade engagement as it prepares to graduate from the least developed country (LDC) category. He said the government is prioritising market diversification and improving the business climate to sustain growth.
Bangladesh has already signed an Economic Partnership Agreement with Japan and is negotiating similar deals with countries including South Korea, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.
During the talks, Dhaka also sought Wellington’s support for joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), citing its strategic location and growing consumer market.
New Zealand described Bangladesh as a promising partner and said an FTA could significantly boost bilateral trade while sending a strong signal to global investors about the country’s economic potential during its post-LDC transition.
“Such an agreement would enhance trade volumes and signal confidence in Bangladesh’s market,” the New Zealand side said.
Both sides agreed to explore new avenues of cooperation and maintain close engagement, with New Zealand’s trade minister expressing interest in visiting Dhaka later this year to advance discussions.
