State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam on Tuesday urged business leaders to fully utilise the ample opportunities to expand mutually beneficial two-way trade and increase Bangladesh's exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) region.

She highlighted the export potential of pharmaceuticals, jute and jute products, leather and leather products, ceramics, shrimp, tropical fruits, and IT products to the CIS region.

Shama Obaed said the present government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, has been striving to widen and strengthen cooperation with promising but largely untapped regions, including Eastern Europe and the CIS countries.

The State Minister emphasised trade diversification and investment promotion when the board of directors and office-bearers of the Commonwealth of Independent States-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CIS-BCCI) met her at her office.

She said countries in the region, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, offer promising markets for Bangladesh's diverse export basket.

The State Minister also stressed the importance of exchanging business delegations to explore untapped opportunities in trade, investment, and economic cooperation.

She said stronger cooperation among the apex chambers of commerce and industry in the CIS countries would help deepen business-to-business relations.

Issues related to organising trade and investment exhibitions and fairs, branding Bangladeshi products, and addressing challenges such as the lack of direct flights, the absence of resident diplomatic missions in the respective capitals, and difficulties in banking and financial transactions were also discussed, according to the Ministry.

The State Minister assured the business leaders of the government's full support in strengthening trade and economic relations with the region.