Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir has stressed the need to diversify Bangladesh’s exports to Hong Kong beyond ready-made garments to help narrow the country’s trade deficit with the territory.
He made the remarks during a meeting with Sophia Chong, executive director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Summit at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Thursday (10 September).
The minister said bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Hong Kong stood at $415 million in the 2024-25 financial year, with Bangladesh importing goods worth $307 million and exporting $108 million.
Bangladesh’s exports rose slightly to $109.51 million in the 2025-26 financial year, he said, adding that increasing direct access for Bangladeshi products to the Hong Kong market was essential to reduce the trade gap.
At the meeting, the minister proposed organising business-to-business matchmaking programmes to connect Bangladeshi producers of premium fruits, including mangoes, jackfruit and lemons, with Hong Kong supermarkets and major importers.
The two sides also discussed expanding the market for Bangladesh’s environmentally friendly and biodegradable jute products in Hong Kong’s green retail and design sectors.
Muktadir proposed subsidised or free exhibition stalls for Bangladeshi small and medium-sized enterprises at international trade fairs, the introduction of electronic certificates of origin, modernisation of customs procedures and improvements in joint shipping and logistics arrangements.
He also expressed Bangladesh’s interest in signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hong Kong on bilateral trade and investment to address challenges following the country’s graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category.
Bangladesh wants to use Hong Kong as a gateway to southern China and the Greater Bay Area to develop new trade and investment partnerships, he said.
Chong welcomed Bangladesh’s proposals and stressed the need to strengthen direct contacts and experience-sharing between businesses from the two sides.
She said there was considerable scope for expanding cooperation in ready-made garments, textiles, leather goods and information technology.
At the end of the meeting, Muktadir invited a high-level HKTDC business delegation, led by Chong, to visit Bangladesh.
