TBM Report
Bangladesh and Singapore expressed optimism regarding the swift conclusion of the proposed bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA), emphasizing stronger business-to-business engagement to scale up trade, investment, and economic partnership.
The bilateral roadmap was outlined during high-level meetings between Bangladesh State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, MP, and Singaporean Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, alongside Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim in Singapore.
According to an official release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both delegations reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. State Minister Shama highlighted Bangladesh’s potential to diversify exports beyond ready-made garments, citing high-prospect sectors such as pharmaceuticals, ceramics, agro-products, and jute goods.
Inviting greater Singaporean capital inflow into Bangladesh’s logistics, supply chain management, renewable energy, and technology domains, Shama assured investors of a transparent and business-friendly domestic regulatory framework. She also proposed hiring skilled Bangladeshi nurses for Singapore’s healthcare and elderly care sectors under institutional training partnerships.
Reflecting on Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s policy directives, the State Minister reiterated the government’s “Bangladesh First” doctrine—anchored in political stability, economic diplomacy, job creation, and good governance. She requested Singapore’s diplomatic backing for Bangladesh to become an ASEAN Dialogue Partner and for reviving SAARC initiatives, while pressing for a sustainable repatriation process for displaced Rohingyas.
During her site visit to the Port of Singapore Authority (PSA), Shama met regional CEO Vincent Ng, who expressed PSA’s intent to invest in Chattogram’s strategic Bay Terminal Project. The delegation also evaluated urban sustainability operations at the TuasOne Waste-to-Energy Plant to explore technological knowledge transfer for Bangladeshi infrastructure.
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