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Bangladesh, Singapore Initiate FTA Talks
Bangladesh and Singapore officially launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on Monday, expressing optimism that the agreement will strengthen economic ties and promote greater bilateral trade and investment.
Derek Loh Eu-Tse, the Non-resident High Commissioner of Singapore to Bangladesh, met with Foreign Secretary Ambassador Md Jashim Uddin at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest.
During the meeting, the Foreign Secretary highlighted the ongoing reform initiatives by Bangladesh's interim government and requested Singapore’s support in areas such as experience sharing and technical cooperation. He also emphasized Singapore's role within ASEAN in facilitating the repatriation of Forcibly Displaced Myanmar Nationals (FDMNs) to Myanmar.
The Foreign Secretary briefed the Singaporean envoy on the challenges posed by the prolonged stay of the Rohingya refugees in southern Bangladesh, urging international cooperation to address the humanitarian and security concerns.
Additionally, Ambassador Jashim Uddin sought Singapore's backing for Bangladesh's bid to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner, a move that would further enhance diplomatic and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Both sides expressed their commitment to advancing the FTA talks, which are expected to open new avenues for trade and investment, fostering deeper economic engagement between Bangladesh and Singapore.