Bangladesh and Singapore have reaffirmed their commitment to finalizing a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by 2026, aiming to deepen economic and strategic ties. This pledge was made during the Fourth Foreign Office Consultations (FOC), held in Singapore on Monday, according to Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The two countries also agreed to expedite several pending agreements, including those on customs cooperation, a revised double taxation avoidance protocol, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, and tourism cooperation.
Bangladesh’s Foreign Secretary Md Jashim Uddin led the delegation, while Singapore was represented by Permanent Secretary Luke Goh. The consultation covered a wide spectrum of bilateral cooperation, with detailed discussions on trade, energy, digital economy, health, agriculture, waste management, and human resource development.
Foreign Secretary Uddin emphasized Bangladesh’s export strengths in garments, pharmaceuticals, and leather goods, and called for greater Singaporean investment, particularly in energy and economic zones. Cooperation in agri-tech, contract farming, and tourism infrastructure was also explored.
Both sides praised the contributions of Bangladeshi workers in Singapore and discussed skill development initiatives. Bangladesh appreciated Singapore’s support for its ASEAN engagement and expressed interest in joining the ASEAN FTA and RCEP. The meeting concluded with a warm invitation for continued dialogue in Dhaka.
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