SS Report
Dhaka, September 9, 2025:
Bangladesh and the United Kingdom have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and investment partnerships during a high-level meeting between Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin and UK Trade Envoy to Bangladesh, Baroness Winterton.
The meeting, held at the Secretariat in Dhaka, focused on enhancing economic cooperation, exploring new business opportunities, and ensuring smooth trade relations as Bangladesh prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026.
Commerce Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin emphasized Bangladesh’s growing economic potential and its strategic vision for attracting foreign investment.
He noted that LDC graduation marks a turning point for the country’s trade and development ambitions. “This transition will create new opportunities for our businesses and trading partners. We seek continued support from the UK to sustain export competitiveness and attract quality investment,” he said.
Baroness Winterton assured the UK’s continued engagement with Bangladesh, highlighting that under the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), Bangladeshi products will enjoy full duty-free access to the UK market until 2029. “This preferential access will help Bangladesh remain competitive in the UK market as it navigates post-LDC challenges,” she stated.
She reiterated that her visit aims to identify new avenues for trade and investment and to reinforce the UK’s economic partnership with Bangladesh. “We want to work together to unlock new trade opportunities and deepen private sector collaboration,” she added.
Both sides discussed expanding trade in sectors such as textiles, renewable energy, aviation, and infrastructure. They also acknowledged the importance of policy stability, ease of doing business, and regulatory reforms in encouraging long-term investment.
British High Commissioner Sarah Cooke and Additional Secretary (Export) to the Ministry of Commerce Md. Abdur Rahim Khan were also present during the meeting.
The discussion reflects growing momentum in UK-Bangladesh economic relations, with both nations eager to build a more dynamic, resilient, and mutually beneficial trade and investment framework in the coming years.
