Bangladesh has moved to further strengthen trade and investment ties with New Zealand, targeting expanded cooperation across agricultural technology, dairy, green energy, pharmaceuticals, leather, jute, sustainable textiles and information technology.

Officials highlighted opportunities for joint investment, business-to-business links and export growth during talks with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE).

Commerce Secretary Md Ataur Rahman led the Bangladeshi delegation. Joint Secretary (FTA) Md Firoz Uddin Ahmed and Deputy Secretary (FTA) Farhana Islam were also present, while NZTE’s Market Manager for Southeast and East Asia, Rachel McGuckian, attended the meeting.

Annual bilateral trade stands at around $450 million, with dairy and metal products accounting for a significant portion of Bangladesh’s imports from New Zealand, the meeting noted. Bangladeshi exports to New Zealand total about $147 million, with ready-made garments accounting for a major share.

Dhaka requested NZTE’s cooperation in expanding its non-RMG exports to New Zealand to make bilateral trade more balanced and diversified, said a commerce ministry press release.

The ministry highlighted pharmaceuticals, environment-friendly jute goods, leather, sustainable textiles and IT services as areas for new market opportunities in the New Zealand market.

Highlighting internationally recognised certifications and quality production systems, the Bangladeshi delegation said the country’s drug manufacturers could supply quality generic medicines and vaccines to New Zealand’s healthcare sector at competitive prices.

They also highlighted the availability of more than 650,000 skilled technology professionals and proposed business partnerships with New Zealand technology companies in software, fintech and digital services.

On the investment front, Bangladesh invited New Zealand businesses to invest in its special economic zones, highlighting opportunities in dairy processing, specialised nutritional products, cold-chain logistics, agri-tech, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy and environmentally friendly technologies.

The Bangladeshi delegation said various investment facilities were available for foreign investors in the special economic zones, adding that New Zealand companies could use these opportunities not only to invest in Bangladesh but also to expand their businesses into the wider South and Southeast Asian markets.

To turn bilateral cooperation into concrete outcomes, Bangladesh proposed three immediate steps: direct communication between NZTE’s Southeast and East Asia team and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), virtual B2B meetings connecting New Zealand businesses with Bangladeshi exporters in pharmaceuticals, IT and leather, and enhanced coordination with New Zealand’s foreign affairs and trade ministry.

The two sides also agreed to establish a bilateral Business Council, and to organise and participate in trade fairs.

The meeting stressed the importance of building a balanced and mutually beneficial economic partnership by utilising the respective strengths of both countries.

Officials expect combining Bangladesh’s large market and manufacturing capabilities with New Zealand’s technological expertise and high-value export capacity to take bilateral trade and investment relations to a new height.