Speakers at a national dialogue have underscored the urgency of strengthening Bangladesh’s trade negotiation capacity as the country prepares to graduate from the Least Developed Countries (LDC) category in 2026.
They emphasised that building a skilled pool of trade negotiators is crucial for sustaining export growth, diversifying markets, and safeguarding Bangladesh’s interests in an increasingly competitive global trading system.
The dialogue, ‘Reflections & Way Forward: Building National Capabilities in Trade Negotiations’, was organised on Sunday by the Ministry of Commerce with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), under the Transformative Economic Policy Programme (TEPP), financed by the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
Speaking at the event, Commerce Adviser Sk Bashir Uddin called for institutionalising trade negotiation capacity, stating, “As Bangladesh prepares to graduate from LDC status, the Trade Negotiation School will be vital in equipping our negotiators to secure the nation’s interests in a complex global trade landscape.”
Chief Adviser's Special Envoy on International Affairs Lutfey Siddiqi said, “Trade negotiations cannot be approached casually. They demand institutional change, specialist expertise, authority, and continuity to succeed.”
British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke reaffirmed the UK’s partnership with Bangladesh. “The UK is proud to support Bangladesh to build a new generation of trade negotiators, and we remain firmly committed to supporting its journey toward a modern, inclusive economy," she said.
Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh Stefan Liller stressed that Bangladesh’s graduation is “a call for an economic reset.”
He said Bangladesh must craft a new generation of trade and investment strategies, negotiate favourable agreements, and defend its interests in global forums.
"Central to this effort is a skilled and strategic team of trade negotiators, and I’m delighted the Ministry of Commerce has established such a pool. UNDP, together with the UK Government is proud to support this effort so that Bangladesh not only participates in global trade talks but does so with clarity, unity, and foresight.”
The event, chaired by Mahbubur Rahman, Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, also recognised members of the newly formed pool of trade negotiators with certificates.
Drawing expertise from ministries, agencies, and academia, this cadre is expected to play a pivotal role in advancing Bangladesh’s trade interests in bilateral, regional, and multilateral forums.
Md Abdur Rahim Khan, Additional Secretary (Export Wing), Ministry of Commerce, Owais Parray, Country Economic Advisor, UNDP Bangladesh and Dr. Mohammad Abdur Razzaque, Chairman, RAPID were also amongst many who shared their views.
UNDP, through the TEPP, is supporting the Government of Bangladesh to strengthen national trade capacities by developing a dedicated pool of trade negotiators, providing specialised capacity-building programmes and facilitating technical assistance.
The initiative is designed not only to build individual skills but also to create institutional mechanisms that ensure knowledge retention and long-term sustainability of trade negotiation capacity.