Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir on Wednesday urged the United Kingdom to continue preferential market access for Bangladeshi products under its Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).

The minister made the call during a meeting with UK Trade Envoy for Bangladesh Baroness Rosie Winterton at the Ministry of Commerce.

The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral trade relations, increasing investment and enhancing cooperation for long-term economic growth.

The minister said the government has undertaken a series of reforms to improve the investment climate, reduce logistics costs and facilitate ease of doing business.

He stressed that increased investment is essential to harness Bangladesh’s growing workforce, adding that the government is prioritising this area.

Muktadir also noted that Bangladesh is working on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with several countries and will further strengthen trade and investment dialogue with the UK. During the meeting, he reiterated the request for continued preferential access for Bangladeshi goods under the UK’s DCTS.

Baroness Winterton praised the new government’s economic reforms, investment-friendly policies and initiatives aimed at achieving long-term growth.

The UK side noted that there is scope to better utilise existing market access facilities for Bangladeshi products, highlighting export potential beyond readymade garments, particularly in processed food, seafood, light engineering and leather goods.

They also encouraged Bangladesh to utilise export credit facilities worth around £2 billion under UK Export Finance to support investments, including in infrastructure.

Both sides agreed to reactivate the Bangladesh-UK Trade and Investment Dialogue and expressed optimism about closer cooperation in the future.

UK High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke, Commerce Secretary Mahbubur Rahman, Additional Secretary (Export) Abdur Rahim Khan, and members of the UK delegation were present at the meeting.