April 15, 2025
DHAKA – Bangladesh and Singapore have committed to finalising a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of next year, as discussed during the fourth Bangladesh-Singapore Foreign Office Consultations held in Singapore today.
The Bangladesh delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin, while the Singaporean side was headed by Luke Goh, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the meeting, both sides also agreed to work towards concluding several key agreements, including the Agreement on Customs Cooperation, the Revised Protocol for the Avoidance of Double Taxation, the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters, and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism.
Bangladesh expressed its appreciation for Singapore’s support in its bid to become a Sectoral Dialogue Partner of ASEAN and reiterated its interest in joining both the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin highlighted Bangladesh’s emergence as a reliable source of high-quality and competitively priced products, including ready-made garments, pharmaceuticals, leather goods, ceramics, jute products, and footwear. He urged Singapore to encourage its business community to invest more in these sectors to foster a more balanced trade relationship.
Recognising Singapore as one of the top investors in Bangladesh, the Foreign Secretary invited increased investment from the city-state, particularly in the energy sector and Economic Zones.
The discussions also covered potential collaboration in agricultural technology, agri-logistics, contract farming, and the development of tourism infrastructure.
Both sides exchanged views on a wide range of issues, including trade and investment, power and energy, connectivity, digital economy, health, agriculture, waste management, tourism, and human resource development. Regional and global developments were also discussed.
Acknowledging the significant contributions of Bangladeshi nationals currently working in Singapore, both countries discussed future cooperation in human resource development, focusing on training and skills enhancement initiatives.
The Foreign Secretary also sought Singapore’s support for developing a Waste-to-Energy Plant to bolster sustainable energy generation in Bangladesh.
Regional issues such as climate change, migration, and recent developments in South and Southeast Asia were also brought to the table.