Germany and Sweden have signalled strong interest in expanding trade and investment ties with Bangladesh, with a particular focus on market-oriented sectors and future market development.
The interest was conveyed in separate meetings between Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and German Ambassador Dr Rudiger Lotz and Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Wik on Sunday at the Secretariat.
The discussions centred on enhancing bilateral trade, boosting investment flows and deepening broader economic cooperation.
During his meeting with the German envoy, the minister underscored that Europe remains a key destination for Bangladesh's exports and emphasised the mutual gains that could be achieved through stronger trade collaboration. He acknowledged the persistence of certain non-tariff barriers in trade with the European Union, noting that the government has already initiated inter-ministerial efforts to address these constraints.
Muktadir also invited German investment in Bangladesh's light engineering, textile and leather sectors, highlighting the government's ongoing reforms to create a more investor-friendly climate. "Foreign investment is crucial to generating employment for the 2 to 2.2 million people entering the workforce each year," he said.
Ambassador Lotz reaffirmed Germany's interest in strengthening trade relations and expressed willingness to collaborate on skills development in market-driven sectors, alongside exploring new avenues for market expansion. He also stressed the importance of ensuring a level playing field in trade and commerce.
In a separate meeting, Swedish Ambassador Nicolas Wik discussed opportunities to further deepen bilateral economic ties. The commerce minister observed that increased investment would serve as a catalyst for strengthening Bangladesh-Sweden relations.
Additional Secretary (Export) at the Ministry of Commerce, Md Abdur Rahim Khan, was also present at the meetings.
