Bangladesh, Turkey discuss FTA talks, trade and investment cooperation
Commerce, Textiles and Jute and Industries Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has stressed the need to advance negotiations on a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Turkey and strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramiz Sen at the Industries Ministry on Monday, according to a press release.
The meeting reviewed progress in initiating FTA discussions and explored new areas of economic cooperation between the two countries.
Muktadir expressed interest in holding a bilateral meeting with his Turkish counterpart and meeting representatives of Turkey’s investment agencies during his upcoming visit to the country.
Bangladesh also sought contact details and profiles of Turkish fruit exporters to facilitate business-to-business links and increase fruit imports from Turkey. The information will be shared with relevant Bangladeshi businesses through the Ministry of Commerce.
The two sides also discussed cooperation in managing hazardous industrial waste, particularly waste generated by the electronics and ship-breaking industries.
They explored possible Turkish cooperation in establishing and operating specialised treatment, storage and disposal facilities for hazardous waste.
On the leather industry, Sen said leather processing and tannery activities had declined in Turkey because of environmental concerns, while the use of synthetic leather and imports of raw materials had increased.
The ambassador also invited Bangladesh to participate in the upcoming ministerial meeting of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC), as well as the World Halal Industrial Summit and Halal Expo.
Bangladesh informed him that the Commerce Minister would attend the main COMCEC conference, while other Bangladeshi representatives would participate in subsequent programmes.
Industries Secretary Abdun Naser Khan, the Economic Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy and senior officials from the Ministries of Commerce and Industries attended the meeting.