DHAKA, Oct 13 — Bangladesh and the Netherlands have agreed to significantly broaden their economic and strategic partnership, targeting key sectors including maritime infrastructure, water governance, semiconductors, and agricultural supply chains, during high-level bilateral talks held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.
The Dutch Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sjoerd Sjoerdsma, paid a courtesy call on Bangladesh’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Humaiun Kobir. The meeting was also attended by the Ambassador of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, Joris van Bommel.
Both leaders noted that newly elected governments assumed office in Dhaka and The Hague in February 2026, creating fresh momentum to chart a long-term strategic roadmap for the next 50 years. They explored pathways to expand bilateral trade and high-value investment, emphasizing shipbuilding, port and maritime logistics, advanced textiles, cold-chain development in agriculture, and emerging high-tech sectors such as semiconductors.
Minister Sjoerdsma underscored upcoming bilateral engagements, noting the deployment of a specialized Dutch maritime trade mission to Bangladesh, alongside planned ministerial visits focused on sustainable textiles and delta management.
Amid external shocks stemming from ongoing global macroeconomic disruptions, State Minister Kobir sought the Netherlands’ diplomatic and institutional support for Bangladesh’s request to extend its Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation transition period. Kobir also urged backing to advance negotiations toward a comprehensive Bangladesh–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), alongside continued assistance for the nation’s ready-made garments sector.
Reviewing decades of development cooperation, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening technical collaboration under the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, focusing on canal excavation, water governance, and climate adaptation—a national priority championed by the Prime Minister.
The two ministers also addressed regional security, emphasizing the urgency of sustained international engagement to achieve a safe, dignified, and durable solution to the protracted Rohingya crisis.
Discussions further covered safe migration frameworks, UN institutional reforms, and enhanced collaboration in multilateral forums, particularly in view of Bangladesh’s upcoming presidency of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Sources: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Dhaka), Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Dhaka.