Business Desk:
Bangladesh’s participation as a theme country in the China-South Asia Expo 2026 is a reflection of the growing strategic and economic partnership between the two countries, said Bangladesh’s Commerce, Industry, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir.
He said this while delivering the chief guest’s speech at the inauguration ceremony of the “10th China-South Asia Expo and 30th China Kunming Import-Export Fair-2026” held at the Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center in Kunming, the capital of Yunnan Province, China, on Thursday (June 11, 2026).
The Commerce Minister said that Bangladesh’s participation as a theme country is not only a matter of honor, but also an international recognition of Bangladesh’s important role in regional economic cooperation, trade expansion and investment growth. The event will further strengthen the relationship between the business communities of the two countries and create opportunities for new partnerships in trade, investment, technology and innovation.
Around 2,300 exhibitors from 68 countries are participating in this international fair, which will run until June 16. Under the management of the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and in collaboration with the Bangladesh Consulate in Kunming, a record 175 representatives from 101 Bangladeshi companies are participating in this year’s fair.
Products from the country’s main export sectors are being displayed in the Bangladesh Pavilion. These include ready-made garments, textiles, pharmaceuticals, jute and jute products, leather goods, plastic products and handicrafts.
Earlier, at 9 am, Bangladesh Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and Yunnan Province Governor Wang Yubo inaugurated the Bangladesh Pavilion, set up as the theme country. Later, the minister visited various stalls in the pavilion and exchanged views with the participating entrepreneurs.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Governor of Yunnan Province Wang Yubo, and was attended by Vice Chairman of the National People’s Congress of China, Vice Minister of Commerce, Deputy Prime Minister of Laos, Minister of Commerce of Sri Lanka, Deputy Speaker of Nepal, Secretary General of SAARC and President of SAARC Chamber of Commerce.
The event was attended by Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament of Bangladesh Barrister Kaiser Kamal, Akhtar Hossain MP, Md. Khaled Hossain Mahbub MP, Sultana Jasmine MP, Ambassador of Bangladesh to China Md. Nazmul Islam, Vice Chairman and CEO of EPB Mohammad Hasan Arif, Consul General of Bangladesh in Kunming, and representatives of the Ministry of Commerce, EPB and various business organizations.
On the first day of the fair, Vice Minister of Commerce of China Yan Dong paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Commerce of Bangladesh. The meeting discussed various possibilities for expanding trade and investment between the two countries.
Meanwhile, at the Expo’s sideline event “Big Market for All: Export to China”, EPB Vice Chairman and CEO Mohammad Hasan Arif spoke about Bangladesh’s business and investment potential in China.
Tomorrow (June 12), ‘Bangladesh Day’ will be celebrated at the Expo premises, where Bangladesh’s economic progress, investment potential and export capacity will be showcased more broadly to the international community.
