Singapore Eyes Partnership With Bangladesh in Key Sectors

Singapore is keen to deepen its partnership with Bangladesh in port management, logistics, aviation, the digital economy and capacity-building, Singapore’s Chargé d’Affaires in Dhaka Mitchel Lee has said.

“Singapore remains optimistic about Bangladesh’s long-term potential and seeks to partner with Bangladesh in areas such as port management, logistics, the aviation sector, the digital economy and capacity-building,” Lee said at a reception marking Singapore’s 61st National Day at a city hotel on Monday.

He said bilateral trade and investment had reached a significant level, although there was considerable scope for further expansion.

In 2025, bilateral trade in goods totalled S$3.9 billion, equivalent to around US$3 billion, while cumulative foreign direct investment in Bangladesh stood at about S$3 billion, or approximately US$2 billion, Lee said.

“There is more scope to grow,” he added.

Lee also highlighted the importance of the memorandum of understanding on trade and investment signed by Singapore and Bangladesh in November 2022. The agreement provides a framework for closer economic cooperation, including a Joint Working Group working towards a potential free trade agreement between the two countries.

Singapore has also shown interest in Bangladesh’s Bay Terminal, aviation modernisation, digitalisation and capacity-building initiatives in recent months.

Road Transport, Bridges, Railways and Shipping Minister Shaikh Rabiul Alam attended the reception as the chief guest. Politicians, senior civil and military officials, business leaders, journalists and diplomats were also present.

Reflecting on Singapore’s development and its relations with Bangladesh, Lee said Singapore was celebrating its 61st year of independence as well as the 60th anniversary of the Singapore Pledge.

He said the pledge’s core values, including multiculturalism, democracy, justice and equality, remained relevant in an increasingly turbulent global environment.

Lee expressed gratitude to Bangladesh and other international partners for supporting Singapore throughout its development.

“Our relationship with Bangladesh is longstanding. Diplomatic relations between both sides were established in February 1972,” he said.

He said Bangladeshi migrant workers had traditionally been an important part of bilateral relations, particularly those employed in Singapore’s construction and marine services sectors.

Although the number of Bangladeshi workers in Singapore is relatively small compared with some other destination countries, Lee said Singapore remained an important source of remittances for Bangladesh.

According to Bangladesh Bank figures, Singapore ranks 10th among countries contributing remittances to Bangladesh, he said.

Lee stressed that bilateral relations extended beyond trade and investment, citing initiatives aimed at strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties.

These included university talks, Singapore’s first Visa and Consular Networking Session, cooking workshops at the National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, film screenings and the first Singapore-Bangladesh Art Exhibition at Alliance Française de Dhaka.

He said Singapore had also sought to share its experience in good governance and strengthen people-to-people ties through the Singapore Cooperation Programme.

The initiatives included bringing together former participants at a Singapore Cooperation Programme Alumni Dinner and donating a collection of Singaporean books to the Bangladesh National Library.

Lee also introduced his successor, Philip Ong, who attended the reception.

“Going forward, my successor, Philip Ong, who is here today, will work closely with all of you to take our bilateral relationship to greater heights,” he said.

Concluding his remarks, Lee thanked guests for their friendship and support during his tenure in Dhaka, saying he hoped to remain in contact after moving from the Bay of Bengal to another bay area across the Pacific.