New Zealand has proposed opening negotiations for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Bangladesh to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
The proposal was put forward by New Zealand’s Trade and Investment Minister, Todd McClay, during a high-level bilateral meeting with Bangladesh’s Commerce Minister, Khandaker Abdul Muktadir.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC14), held on Sunday at the Palace of Congress in Yaoundé, Cameroon, according to a statement issued on Monday.
Muktadir underscored Bangladesh’s commitment to establishing a business‑friendly environment and enhancing its active participation in global value chains. He highlighted that, as the nation prepares for its forthcoming graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, the government is prioritizing strategic market diversification to safeguard long‑term economic sustainability.
The minister informed his counterpart that Bangladesh has already concluded an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan and is actively engaged in negotiations for similar trade arrangements.
During the meeting, Muktadir reaffirmed Bangladesh’s strong interest in joining the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and sought New Zealand’s support in facilitating its accession.
In response, Minister Todd McClay hailed Bangladesh’s strategic geopolitical significance and economic potential, characterizing the country as a ‘well-suited partner for RCEP.’ He further assured that New Zealand would collaborate with other member states to support Bangladesh’s accession to the regional trade bloc.
Concerning the proposed bilateral FTA, the New Zealand Minister emphasized that the agreement would not only boost trade flows but also convey a strong, positive signal to the global investment community regarding the stability and potential of Bangladesh’s market during its critical post‑LDC transition.
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