BGMEA chief urges Pakistan to boost imports from Bangladesh to bridge trade gap
The Pakistani envoy emphasized the exchange of high-level business delegations to explore market opportunities.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Mahmud Hasan Khan has urged Pakistan to increase imports of Bangladeshi products, particularly high-quality jute yarn and pharmaceuticals, to address the trade imbalance and unlock the potential of bilateral trade.
He made the call today (4 October) during a high-level bilateral meeting with Pakistani High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haidar at the BGMEA office in Uttara, Dhaka.
Highlighting the trade imbalance, Mahmud Hasan Khan said Bangladesh imports significant volumes of essential raw materials for its ready-made garment (RMG) sector from Pakistan, while Bangladeshi exports to Pakistan remain disproportionately low.
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To narrow the trade gap and strengthen economic ties, he proposed increasing Bangladesh's imports of chemicals and dyes from Pakistan while urging the envoy to facilitate larger imports of Bangladeshi jute yarn and pharmaceuticals into Pakistan.
In response, High Commissioner Imran Haidar expressed interest in the proposals and assured the BGMEA leadership of necessary measures to boost two-way trade.
He also emphasised the importance of exchanging high-level business delegations to explore market opportunities.
He said the High Commission would arrange dedicated business-to-business (B2B) meetings and matchmaking sessions with leading Pakistani importers, brands, buyers and trade bodies if a Bangladeshi business delegation comprising RMG and other exporters visits Pakistan.
The meeting also discussed market access strategies, including initial deliberations on an effective bilateral special free trade agreement (FTA) mechanism to sustain trade flows after Bangladesh's graduation from LDC status under the South Asian Free Trade Area (Safta).
Mahmud Hasan Khan also stressed the need to modernise logistics, noting that direct maritime shipments currently take excessive time and require more efficient shipping solutions.
The meeting also discussed long-term human resource and institutional development in the textile and fashion sectors. High Commissioner Haidar proposed student exchanges, technology transfer and joint initiatives between BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology (BUFT) and leading Pakistani fashion and textile institutes.
BGMEA Senior Vice President Enamul Huq Khan, Vice President Md Reazowan Selim, Directors Shah Rayeed Chowdhury and Mohammad Sohel, BGMEA Secretary General Major General Md Shahedul Islam (Retd), along with senior officials from the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka, were present at the meeting.
