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Wednesday | October 14, 2026 | Dhaka
POST-LDC TRADE DIPLOMACY

Bangladesh seeks Dutch support for FTA with EU

Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir holds talks with visiting Dutch Trade Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma; pitches high-tech agricultural transfers, port modernization, and joint ventures in diversified jute products
 Business Report
 Published: 12:01 AM, 14 October 2026
Minister for Commerce, Industries, and Textiles & Jute Khandakar Abdul Muktadir in a bilateral meeting with Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma at the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday.

Bangladesh has formally sought the cooperation of the Netherlands to advance negotiations for a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) and safeguard duty-free trade preferences across European markets following the country’s upcoming graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.

The request was conveyed by Commerce, Industries, Textiles and Jute Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir during a bilateral meeting with visiting Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Sjoerd Sjoerdsma at the ministry on Tuesday.

Highlighting the critical need to preserve export competitiveness post-LDC graduation, Muktadir pointed out that the EU remains Bangladesh’s paramount export destination.

He stressed that establishing robust institutional frameworks, removing non-tariff barriers, and accelerating technical discussions on the EU FTA are essential to guarantee uninterrupted market access for Bangladeshi goods.

Describing the Netherlands as a long-standing friend and strategic economic partner, Muktadir urged the Dutch government to expand bilateral engagement beyond conventional trading into an advanced technology-driven economic partnership.

He proposed combining Bangladesh’s large-scale industrial manufacturing capacity with Dutch technological expertise in high-yield seed research, modern agricultural management, renewable energy, port infrastructure, and water management.

In the agricultural sector, the commerce minister underscored that Dutch precision seed technology and food-processing expertise could transform domestic farming productivity, enabling Bangladesh to cultivate export-grade vegetables and potatoes that comply with strict international phytosanitary standards.

Addressing opportunities in the jute sector, Muktadir noted that surging global demand for eco-friendly alternatives presents a major opening for Bangladeshi jute products.

He called for Dutch technical assistance to establish joint research laboratories, increase crop yield, develop high-value diversified jute products, and innovate in sustainable packaging and blended-fabric textiles.

In response, Dutch Minister Sjoerd Sjoerdsma expressed a strong commitment to deepening Dutch trade and investment footprints in Bangladesh.

He affirmed the Netherlands’ willingness to deploy its specialized expertise in agricultural technology, maritime logistics, industrial modernization, and water resource management to support Bangladesh’s economic transition.

The meeting was attended by Commerce Secretary Ataur Rahman Khan, Dutch Ambassador to Bangladesh Joris van Bommel, and senior ministry officials.