Diplomatic Desk:
Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Susan Ryle held a meeting to further strengthen trade, investment and economic cooperation between Bangladesh and Australia.
In this courtesy call held at the Commerce Minister’s office at the Secretariat on Tuesday (April 21, 2026), fruitful discussions were held on various aspects of bilateral trade expansion, investment growth and economic cooperation between the two countries. This information was given in a press release of the Ministry of Commerce.
At the meeting, the Commerce Minister said that the government is working to create an investment-friendly environment in the country and is encouraging foreign investment, especially in the renewable energy sector. He said that keeping existing industrial establishments operational, setting up new industries and creating employment are the government’s priorities.
He also mentioned that one of the government’s goals is to attract private investment by activating the industrial sector, which has an equivalent of about $7 billion in resources. At that time, he called for increasing Australian investment in solar power generation in Bangladesh.
The Australian High Commissioner said that the current trade volume between the two countries is about 5.14 billion US dollars, which is continuously increasing. He also highlighted the potential for investment in the renewable energy sector.
He said that a high-level Australian delegation is working to explore opportunities for green energy, innovation and technology cooperation. In addition, about 28,000 Bangladeshi students are currently studying in Australia, which has made the country an important destination for Bangladeshi students.
In the meeting, both sides expressed interest in increasing cooperation in the fields of trade, education, scholarships, trade negotiations, and capacity building of officials and infrastructure. At that time, Secretary (Routine Responsibilities) of the Ministry of Commerce Md. Abdur Rahim Khan was present.
