Bangladesh invites Kosovan investors to explore SEZ opportunities

Bangladesh emphasised to increase bilateral trade and requested Kosovo to import Ready-Made Garments (RMG), jute and jute products, ceramics, pharmaceutical products, and other products from Bangladesh.

A delegation from Bangladesh led by Ambassador Md. Nazrul Islam, Secretary Bilateral, Ministry of Foreign Affairs had a meeting with Mimoza Kusari-Lila, Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade, and Innovation of the Republic of Kosovo at the latter’s office in Pristina recently and discussed the issues.

S.M. Mahbubul Alam, Director General (East Europe and CIS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kosovo's Ambassador to Bangladesh, Lulzim Pllana were present during the meeting.

Kosovan Minister mentioned that Bangladesh may available full advantage of regional connectivity among the Western Balkan countries.

The meeting addressed the initiation of a process for a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA), which would create new opportunities to boost trade and investment between Kosovo and Bangladesh, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting focused on economic relations between Kosovo and Bangladesh and concrete opportunities to expand cooperation, with particular emphasis on the pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, and information technology.

Both sides agreed to encourage more private sector interactions and exchanges of business delegations to realize the potential in bilateral trade, investment, and economic cooperation.

They also discussed the formation of a Joint Working Group (JWC) on Trade and Economic Cooperation. Bangladesh delegation invited an exploratory mission of the Kosovan private sector.

During the discussion, they focused on exploring and creating new opportunities for business-to-business cooperation, including collaboration between the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (OEK) and the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce (DCC), as well as the possibility of Bangladeshi companies establishing production lines in Kosovo, reports UNB.

Kosovan Minister Kusari-Lila highlighted that Kosovo offers a favorable investment environment due to its proximity to the EU market, fiscal policies, a competitive workforce, and access to European markets through the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).