Desk Report: Bangladesh has sought stronger trade and investment ties with the Republic of Korea, including greater Korean investment, increased imports of Bangladeshi products and services, and support for Bangladesh’s bid to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The issues came up during separate meetings Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir held in Seoul on Thursday with South Korean Deputy Minister for Trade Negotiations Hyejin Kwon and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) Vice-President Doh Young-Ah.

The meetings covered a wide range of bilateral issues, including trade, investment, industrial cooperation, technology transfer and development assistance, reflecting Dhaka’s efforts to deepen economic engagement with South Korea as Bangladesh prepares for its post-LDC transition.

During his meeting with Deputy Minister Kwon, Kobir highlighted Bangladesh’s longstanding partnership with South Korea and appreciated Seoul’s contribution to the country’s economic transformation and industrial development.

The State Minister welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations on the Bangladesh–ROK Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in August 2026, describing it as an important opportunity for Bangladesh to integrate more deeply into Korean and wider regional supply chains.

He expressed hope that the CEPA would be formally signed during the proposed visit of the President of South Korea to Bangladesh, once the necessary domestic procedures are completed.

Kobir also called for concrete steps to boost Korean imports of Bangladeshi goods and services and gradually reduce the existing trade imbalance between the two countries.

He specifically sought streamlined food-safety inspection and quarantine procedures for Bangladeshi agricultural, fishery and food products, which could help expand their access to the Korean market.

The State Minister further sought South Korea’s support for Bangladesh’s accession to RCEP, a major Asia-Pacific trade agreement, and invited greater Korean investment in Bangladesh.

He encouraged Korean conglomerates as well as small and medium-sized enterprises to explore investment opportunities in Bangladesh through joint investment promotion initiatives and government-to-government facilitation.

Deputy Minister Kwon welcomed the progress in Bangladesh–Korea economic relations and expressed Seoul’s interest in expanding bilateral trade, investment and industrial cooperation, including through the CEPA framework.

In a separate meeting with KOICA Vice-President Doh Young-Ah, Kobir praised the agency’s longstanding contribution to Bangladesh’s socioeconomic development through grants, capacity building, technical cooperation and knowledge sharing.

The State Minister thanked KOICA for its US$39 million Saemaul Plus End Poverty Programme and sought further Korean cooperation in areas including water security, climate resilience, skills development, employment-oriented technical education and digital health.

Dhaka also wants to broaden the next phase of KOICA–Bangladesh cooperation from individual projects towards larger, integrated and transformative programmes, particularly in digital transformation, artificial intelligence and digital public services.

Kobir also requested early Korean concurrence on financing for Dhaka’s Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) projects alongside the Asian Development Bank.

The KOICA vice-president welcomed Bangladesh’s interest in expanding development cooperation and expressed readiness to explore new programmes and areas aligned with Bangladesh’s development priorities and Korea’s development cooperation experience.

The meetings are significant as Bangladesh seeks to strengthen economic partnerships with major Asian economies while preparing for the challenges and opportunities associated with its graduation from the UN’s least developed country category.

The discussions also underscored the two countries’ shared interest in expanding cooperation beyond traditional development assistance towards trade, investment, industrial partnerships, technology transfer, digital transformation and infrastructure development.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening the friendly Bangladesh–South Korea partnership on the basis of mutual benefit and shared priorities.