EPB inks deal with Yunnan, China to boost trade
Staff Reporter :
The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) under the Ministry of Commerce has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Commerce of Yunnan Province, People’s Republic of China.
The agreement was inked during the Mekong-Lancang Fruit Festival, where Bangladesh is participating for the first time, showcasing a wide range of agricultural and processed food products to international buyers at Tongde Kunming Plaza in Yunnan.
Countries such as Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar regularly take part in the festival under similar cooperation arrangements with Yunnan’s Department of Commerce.
According to an official press release, the MoU demonstrates the Government of Bangladesh’s continued commitment to expanding export markets and diversifying the national export basket.
Under this framework, Bangladeshi enterprises will enjoy a number of facilitation benefits in Yunnan Province, including: Rent-free bonded warehouses (up to 2,000 square meters) in designated zones to lower supply chain expenses and improve access to the Chinese market Rent-free offline exhibition space (up to 2,000 square meters) for product promotion and engagement with cross-border trading partners Free access to Yunnan’s designated online commodity city, allowing Bangladeshi exporters to showcase and sell products through a unified digital platform Reduced or waived logistics fees under market procurement trade arrangements Priority customs clearance for fresh and perishable items to ensure timely delivery and minimize costs Preferential air freight and logistics support to boost competitiveness and reduce transportation expenses The MoU was signed by EPB Director General and Joint Secretary Baby Rani Karmakar on behalf of Bangladesh, while Ma Jun, Deputy Director General of the Yunnan Department of Commerce, represented China.
Present at the signing and festival inauguration were Md Khaled, Consul General of Bangladesh in Kunming; Md Ziaur Rahman, Commercial Counsellor at the Bangladesh Embassy in Beijing; and Ridwan, First Secretary (Commerce) at the Consulate General in Kunming.
A nine-member delegation of Bangladeshi fruit producers and exporters is participating in the festival for the first time.
Officials from the Mekong-Lancang Sub-regional Economic Cooperation and Trade Development Center also attended the ceremony.
Bangladesh’s entry into the Lancang-Mekong Fruit Festival and the signing of the MoU underscore the government’s firm focus on export diversification and market expansion.
By gaining cost-effective access to logistics, physical and digital exhibition platforms, and improved freight facilities, Bangladesh is creating opportunities for its exporters to strengthen their footprint in China’s fast-growing consumer market and beyond.
To fully capitalize on this opportunity, developing a strategic export portfolio is essential—focusing on products with strong demand in China, such as design-focused garments, fresh agricultural products, high-standard agro-processed foods, and culturally distinctive handicrafts.
The online commodity city is more than a product listing portal—it functions as a complete marketplace.
Bangladeshi exporters must therefore build expertise in digital marketing, data analytics, and consumer engagement to succeed on these platforms.
Furthermore, expedited customs procedures will be truly advantageous only if exporters can ensure steady and quality-controlled supply volumes.
Strengthening cold chain logistics and improving inventory management are crucial to meeting this requirement.
Ultimately, the MoU is not just about gaining access to warehouses or freight benefits—it is about elevating Bangladesh’s position as a credible, competitive, and visible trading partner.
If Bangladesh approaches Yunnan as a gateway for learning, branding, and scaling up, the positive impact will resonate across the country’s broader export ecosystem.