International Desk:
A bilateral meeting was held between Bangladesh and Hong Kong to strengthen trade and investment cooperation on the sidelines of the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization in Yaounde, Cameroon.
The meeting, held at the Palais de Congress in Yaounde, Cameroon on Monday (March 30, 2026), was led by Mahbubur Rahman, Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, on behalf of Bangladesh, and Aaron Liu, Director-General of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, on behalf of Hong Kong and China.
At the meeting, the Commerce Secretary highlighted the visionary and progressive policies of the newly formed government of Bangladesh. Highlighting various aspects of Bangladesh’s investment potential, he said that the country’s skilled manpower, strategic geographical location, large domestic market and investment-friendly policies are playing an important role in attracting foreign investment.
The Commerce Secretary invited Hong Kong investors to invest in Bangladesh’s Special Economic Zones, especially in export-oriented manufacturing, infrastructure and logistics, information and communication technology (ICT), innovation and green and sustainable industries. He also assured that Hong Kong’s proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) would be given due consideration.
The Hong Kong delegation congratulated the democratic government on the victory of the Bangladeshi government in the elections. They also informed that the draft of the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (IPPA) between Bangladesh and Hong Kong has been finalized. They expressed hope that the agreement would be signed by June 2026, which would play an important role in enhancing the confidence of investors in both countries.
In addition, the Hong Kong delegation expressed its interest in negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) or Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Bangladesh after the ratification of the IPPA. They noted that such an agreement would be helpful in reducing trade barriers and increasing business engagement.
At the end of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to work together to strengthen mutual cooperation and develop bilateral trade relations.
The meeting was attended by Khadija Nazneen, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Mohammad Zahirul Qayum, Economic Minister of the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh in Geneva, and other relevant officials.
