UK Reaffirms Partnership with BD as Trade Grows: Sarah

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke

Cooke made the remarks as she hosted a send-off reception on February 3 for a group of Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs leading a trade mission to the UK, supported by the UK Government's SheTrades Programme. The mission is aimed at further strengthening trade and investment ties between the two countries.

“The UK government is incredibly proud to support these exceptional women entrepreneurs as they work to develop new markets in the UK,” Cooke said. “Their creativity, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit highlight the immense potential of women-led businesses in Bangladesh.”

The mission will bring 50 women-led businesses from four Asian countries (Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Mongolia) and six African nations (Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Mozambique) to Manchester on February 11. During their visit, the entrepreneurs will engage in business-to-business (B2B) meetings with UK companies, promoting cross-border trade and investment.

The UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS) plays a pivotal role in this partnership by offering duty-free, quota-free trade for Bangladesh, excluding arms. Bangladesh stands to save £317 million annually in tariffs on its exports to the UK, the highest among all countries benefiting from DCTS.

The participating Bangladeshi businesses represent various sectors, including fresh and processed food, textiles, handicrafts, beauty, information technology, and business process outsourcing. These companies will meet with British buyers eager to diversify their supply chains and boost product competitiveness.

Among the companies selected for the mission are TMSS ICT and Handicrafts, SuperTel, Opus Technology, Tarango Bangladesh, Parijat Bangladesh, TANIS Bangladesh, and Leatherina. Five of these companies already have the necessary certification to enter the UK market, while the remaining three are receiving support from the British Standard Institute (BSI) for required accreditation.

This initiative is hosted in collaboration with the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and funded by UK International Development, as part of the SheTrades Commonwealth+ Programme. The London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, and the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce are also supporting the event.

The trade mission marks another milestone in the UK’s growing trade relationship with Bangladesh, showcasing the strength of women-led enterprises in driving economic growth and international business opportunities.