Bangladesh and Thailand sign MoU to strengthen trade cooperation

BSS :

The Bangladesh Foreign Trade Institute (BFTI) and Thailand’s International Institute for Trade and Development (ITD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation in trade and development between the two countries.

The agreement was signed on Thursday in Bangkok by Faiyaz Murshid Kazi, Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand and Permanent Representative to UN ESCAP, and Suphakit Charoenkul, Executive Director of ITD.

Under the MoU, both institutes will collaborate in areas such as education, research, training, human resource development, and policy analysis. Joint activities will include research programs, seminars, workshops, training sessions, and exchange of academic and policy knowledge.

Ambassador Faiyaz Murshid Kazi expressed hope that the partnership would accelerate the feasibility study for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Bangladesh and Thailand. He also suggested organizing a review seminar involving business representatives and stakeholders.

Dr. Saif Uddin Ahmed, Acting CEO of BFTI, who joined the ceremony virtually, said the collaboration is important for enhancing Bangladesh’s commercial and institutional capacity, especially as the country prepares to transition out of its Least Developed Country (LDC) status.

He added that the MoU would open new opportunities for knowledge exchange, joint research, training, and innovative activities, benefiting not only the two countries but the wider Asia-Pacific region.

Suphakit Charoenkul emphasized that the cooperation will focus on trade, investment, skill development, and policy research, with trade serving as a key driver for sustainable and inclusive development.