[🇧🇩] U.K.---A development partner of Bangladesh

[🇧🇩] U.K.---A development partner of Bangladesh
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G Bangladesh Defense

President seeks more UK support in education, investment, technology


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President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday urged the United Kingdom (UK) to enhance cooperation in Bangladesh's education, human resource development and technology sectors and further strengthen business and investment between the two countries.

He made the call when British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke paid a courtesy call on the President at Bangabhaban this morning, according to a press release signed by the President's Press Secretary Md. Sarwar Alam.

During the meeting, Sarah Cooke handed over a congratulatory letter from King Charles III of the United Kingdom to Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on assuming the office the President.

The President expressed gratitude to King Charles III for the greetings and congratulatory letter and requested the British High Commissioner to convey his greetings to the King.

He also sought cooperation to further expand opportunities for Bangladeshi students for higher education in the UK, increase Commonwealth scholarships, develop the country's human resources and enhance the capacity of education- and technology-related institutions.

"Expatriate Bangladeshis living in Britain are making significant contributions to strengthening and developing the ties between Britain and Bangladesh," he said.

"Besides bilateral relations, Bangladesh, as a member state of the Commonwealth, has been working closely with the UK on the development of Commonwealth countries and various issues of common interest," he added.

The President further said Bangladesh has returned to the democratic path through a free, impartial and peaceful election and stressed the importance of enhancing the capacity of democratic institutions and elected representatives to further strengthen this process.

Referring to the UK's Westminster-style democracy, the President stressed the importance of regular contacts, mutual visits and exchanges of experience between parliamentarians of the two countries.

At the meeting, Sarah Cooke disclosed that nearly 99.99 percent of Bangladesh's products, including readymade garments, will enjoy duty-free and unrestricted access to the UK market for another three years after elevating from the LDC category.

The President marked the facility as an important prospect to further expand commercial relations between the two countries.

The British High Commissioner also briefed the President on an initiative for digital climate data exchange between Bangladesh and the UK.

"The initiative will play an effective role in making weather forecasts more accurate and increasing agricultural production through the exchange of weather and climate-related information between the two countries," President said, expressing satisfaction over the initiative.

The Secretary of the President's Office, the Press Secretary, the British Deputy High Commissioner and Director of Development and senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant offices were present at the meeting.​
 

UK envoy discusses broader ties, trade and investment with PM


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British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cook on Sunday met Prime Minister Tarique Rahman and discussed the overall state of Bangladesh-UK relations, including prospects for greater trade and investment, economic cooperation and human resource development.

The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's Office in the Cabinet Division of Bangladesh Secretariat, said a press release issued by the PM's Press Wing.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on various issues of bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest.

They stressed the importance of further strengthening and broadening the longstanding and friendly relations between Bangladesh and the UK.

The two sides also discussed expanding cooperation in education, skills development and migration.

Tarique and the British envoy exchanged views on continued UK support for Bangladesh's economic development and progress, as well as the prospects for further expanding trade and investment between the two countries in the future.

They expressed optimism about taking the existing friendly relations between Bangladesh and the UK forward and exploring new areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir and officials concerned were present.​
 

More goods could push UK exports to $10b

Say stakeholders

Star Business Report

Bangladesh could more than double its export earnings from the UK to $10 billion a year if businesses look beyond readymade garments to products such as pharmaceuticals, food, shrimp, agricultural goods, bicycles, light engineering goods and plastics, stakeholders said.

The country shipped goods worth $4.67 billion to the UK in fiscal year 2025-26, mostly apparel, according to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB).

But a more diverse export basket could lift that figure to $10 billion, said Mohammad Hasan Arif, vice-chairman and chief executive officer of the bureau.

Speaking at a workshop titled “Export Growth in the UK Market: Opportunities Beyond RMG” in Dhaka yesterday, he said Bangladesh accounts for only 0.49 percent of total UK imports of $948 billion, which points to significant room for growth.

“Increasing the share to 1 percent could take Bangladesh’s exports to the UK to around $10 billion,” Hasan said in his keynote presentation.

Besides reducing reliance on garments, he called for stronger value-chain management, internationally recognised testing and standards facilities, and better understanding among exporters of UK regulations and market opportunities.

The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), the EPB and the British High Commission in Dhaka jointly organised the event. Participants of the programme focused on helping exporters make the most of the UK Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), particularly as Bangladesh nears graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category.

The DCTS is a UK trade preference programme that cuts tariffs and simplifies trading rules. It replaces the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP).

In his welcome address, DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed said the scheme could help Bangladeshi businesses expand their presence in Britain, but exporters would need to prepare to benefit from it.

He said exports to the UK remain heavily dependent on garments, leaving considerable scope to ship other products.

He urged businesses to improve product quality, meet international standards, strengthen certification and supply-chain traceability, and invest in packaging and branding.

Better access to market intelligence and stronger compliance would also help exporters compete in the UK, he said.

Taskeen also called for the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers to boost bilateral trade and investment.

James Goldman, acting British high commissioner to Bangladesh, said the two countries have longstanding relations and a growing trade and investment partnership.

He said continued access to the UK market after LDC graduation would help businesses plan ahead, expand operations and make investment decisions with greater certainty. He hoped Bangladeshi businesses would take advantage of the opportunities.

Ellie Parker, regional trade adviser for South Asia, Central Asia and the South Caucasus at the British High Commission, led a technical session on the DCTS.

She covered market access under the scheme, including after LDC graduation, preferential tariff arrangements and the practical steps exporters must take to benefit.

During a panel discussion, speakers from the National Board of Revenue’s Customs Bond Commissionerate in Chattogram, the Footwear, Leather Goods and Accessories Exporters Association, Hortex Foundation, Meghna Group, Cupcake Exports Ltd, MUC Foods Ltd and Bangladesh Flexible Packaging Industries Association talked about ways to expand non-RMG exports.​
 

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