Commerce Minister Khandaker Abdul Muktadir and UK High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke held a meeting to strengthen cooperation on expanding trade and investment between the two countries.
The meeting took place on Monday morning at the minister’s office in the Secretariat.
According to sources, the two sides discussed ways to further enhance existing trade relations and explored opportunities for investment in new sectors.
Minister Muktadir said Bangladesh wants to work closely with the UK to ensure mutual benefits through effective and sustainable economic ties.
He emphasised the need for UK investment in modernising Sylhet’s tea industry and boosting production, noting the region’s vast potential and the UK’s past experience in this sector. He added that increased investment will create new jobs and expand tourism.
Highlighting fertilizer factories, the minister said gas shortages prevent them from operating year‑round. Foreign investment is needed to keep the factories running throughout the year using LPG. He also urged British investors to consider the ICT sector alongside fertilizer plants.
High Commissioner Sarah Cooke reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to advancing the long‑standing trade partnership between the two countries. She said the UK is keen to support capacity building for officials in the Ministry of Commerce’s Trade Negotiators Pool.
She also expressed particular interest in investing in Sylhet’s tea gardens, seafood, leather processing, export diversification, and light engineering sectors.
State Minister for Commerce Md Shariful Alam, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, and Additional Secretary (Export) Md Abdur Rahim Khan were also present at the meeting.
