Diplomatic Desk:
The Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, Joris van Bommel, met with Industry Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir in his office at the ministry on Monday (April 27, 2026). The meeting held fruitful discussions on strengthening trade, investment and technical cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting placed special emphasis on increasing cooperation based on strategic public-private partnerships (PPP). Increasing agricultural productivity, water management, maritime industry development and building sustainable value chains were identified as priority sectors.
The minister said that although production in Bangladesh’s agricultural sector has increased, preservation, processing and ensuring fair prices are now a big challenge. In this regard, the Netherlands can play an important role in cold chain logistics, modern preservation systems and increasing export capacity. He further said that the Dutch experience in riverine land management and restoration can be very useful for Bangladesh.
Ambassador of the Netherlands Joris van Bommel said that we are interested in partnership investment and knowledge-based cooperation. There is a possibility of joint ventures in the sectors of agriculture, water management, port modernization and maritime security. He said that Dutch companies are interested in expanding their research and development (R&D) programs in Bangladesh, but for this, strong intellectual property protection and an investment-friendly environment need to be ensured.
The meeting focused on removing existing logistical and legal barriers to investment – especially market access, intellectual property rights and supply chain efficiency. In addition, the application of modern technology, innovation and climate-resilient solutions for sustainable agricultural development was also discussed.
Views were also exchanged on Bangladesh’s upcoming transition from Least Developed Country (LDC) status. At this time, it was mentioned that a three-year extension of time is necessary for pre-transition preparation in the interest of maintaining economic stability of Bangladesh, managing external debt and implementing structural reforms.
The ambassador further said that there is a plan for a high-level delegation from the Netherlands to visit Bangladesh for the development of agriculture, maritime sector and trade, which will give new momentum to investment and trade expansion in the future. In the meeting, both sides also expressed hope to elevate bilateral economic relations to new heights through technology, innovation and sustainable development.
Secretary of the Ministry of Industries Md. Obaidur Rahman and senior officials of the ministry were present at the time.
