Bangladesh is seeking Australia’s support to strengthen its trade negotiation capacity as the country prepares for the post-least developed country (LDC) trading environment, with both sides also agreeing to deepen cooperation in research, investment, education and agriculture.
The initiative featured prominently during a meeting between Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir and Australian High Commissioner Susan Ryle at the Commerce Ministry on Thursday, where the two sides discussed broadening bilateral economic engagement beyond trade and investment.
At the centre of the discussions was Bangladesh’s plan to institutionalise training for government officials on World Trade Organization rules, international trade law and trade negotiations to better equip the country for future bilateral and multilateral trade agreements.
The government also plans to establish a dedicated research and study centre that could evolve into a regional hub for trade-related knowledge and capacity building, Muktadir said.
He also outlined plans to introduce specialised training for project directors to improve the implementation of public development projects.
Australia expressed interest in supporting the long-term capacity-building initiative.
Ryle said future cooperation could move beyond standalone training programmes to more structured and sustained initiatives covering trade negotiations, the legal aspects of international agreements and policymaking. Other development partners could also be involved in the programme, she added.
The discussions also covered Bangladesh’s transition from LDC status, its position in the multilateral trading system and strategies for maintaining market access after the withdrawal of preferential trade benefits. Both sides agreed to continue regular dialogue on these issues.
Ryle said bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Australia now stands at about $5.5 billion and continues to grow.
She identified education, transnational education, renewable energy, agriculture, food processing and business investment as sectors offering significant scope for deeper collaboration.
An Australian business delegation is also planning to visit Bangladesh to explore investment opportunities and strengthen commercial engagement, she said.
The meeting further discussed the potential for Australian beef exports to Bangladesh, alongside cooperation on halal certification, livestock traceability and modern livestock management.
Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan attended the meeting.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to expanding Bangladesh-Australia relations into a broader and more strategic economic partnership through sustained cooperation in trade, investment, skills development and research.
