Bangladesh, Turkey seek to advance FTA talks

Commerce, Textiles and Jute and Industries Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir today (5 October) stressed the need to advance negotiations on a proposed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Turkey and further strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

He said this during a meeting with Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Ramiz Sen at the Industries Ministry here this afternoon, said a press release.

The meeting reviewed progress in initiating discussions on the FTA between the two countries, while the two sides also discussed expanding economic relations and exploring new areas of cooperation.

The minister expressed interest in holding a bilateral meeting with his Turkish counterpart and meeting representatives of Turkey's investment agencies during his upcoming visit to the country.

The two sides expressed optimism about further strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Bangladesh also sought contact details and profiles of Turkish fruit exporters to facilitate business-to-business connections and increase fruit imports from Turkey.

The meeting discussed sharing the information with relevant Bangladeshi businesses through the Ministry of Commerce.

Cooperation in the management of hazardous industrial waste also received importance during the meeting, particularly waste generated by the electronics and ship-breaking industries.

The two sides discussed possible cooperation with Turkey in establishing and operating specialised facilities, including treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDFs), for the treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste.

On the leather industry, Ambassador Sen said leather processing and tannery activities had declined in Turkey due to environmental concerns.

At the same time, the use of synthetic leather and imports of raw materials have increased in the country, he said.

The Turkish ambassador also invited Bangladesh to participate in the upcoming ministerial meeting under the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC), as well as the World Halal Industrial Summit and Halal Expo.

Bangladesh informed the ambassador that the Commerce Minister would attend the main COMCEC conference, while other Bangladeshi representatives would participate in subsequent programmes.

Industries Secretary Abdun Naser Khan, Economic Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy, and senior officials of the Ministry of Commerce and Ministry of Industries were present at the meeting.