Bangladesh and Pakistan have agreed to strengthen bilateral trade and industrial cooperation, with a particular focus on food commodities, fertiliser and jute, during a high-level meeting held in Dhaka on Monday.

The discussions centred on expanding cooperation in the trade of agricultural products, edible oil, pulses, chickpeas, sugar, urea fertiliser and jute, while exploring new business and investment opportunities between the two countries.

The meeting took place at the Ministry of Industries, where Commerce, Industries, and Textiles and Jute Adviser Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir held talks with a Pakistani delegation led by Asim Azim Siddiqui, Chairman of the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP).

Pakistan High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider also attended the meeting.

Among the Bangladeshi participants were Industries Secretary Abdun Naser Khan, Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman Khan, and other senior officials.

Speaking at the meeting, Khandaker Abdul Muqtadir said stronger trade relations are essential for the sustainable economic development of both countries.

He emphasised that greater collaboration between the public and private sectors would create new investment opportunities and boost bilateral business.

The adviser also said the government is implementing reforms to facilitate trade, accelerate industrialisation and improve the overall business environment, which would help expand Bangladesh-Pakistan trade.

Pakistan keen to export food commodities

TCP Chairman Asim Azim Siddiqui said Pakistan is interested in exporting a range of agricultural commodities to Bangladesh, including rice, pulses, chickpeas, fertiliser and edible oil.

He also noted that Pakistan has strong demand for Bangladesh's high-quality jute and jute products, creating significant opportunities to expand bilateral trade.

The Pakistani delegation informed the meeting that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bangladesh's Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) and the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to facilitate government-to-government trade in food commodities is in its final stage.