New Zealand has expressed a strong commitment to maintaining duty-free and preferential market access for Bangladesh following its graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category. This intention was communicated by New Zealand’s non-resident High Commissioner to Bangladesh, David Pine, during a meeting with the Commerce, Industries, and Textiles and Jute Minister, Khandakar Abdul Muktadir, in Dhaka on May 17, 2026.
New Zealand – Bangladesh Discussions
The discussions, held at the Secretariat, focused on expanding bilateral trade and investment relations. Both parties explored the potential of a comprehensive Bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to enhance trade cooperation. Minister Muktadir emphasized the importance of increasing investment and employment opportunities to ensure Bangladesh’s successful transition from the LDC status.
Highlighting the significance of the Ready-Made Garments (RMG) sector, which plays a crucial role in Bangladesh’s exports, Muktadir stressed the need for maintaining competitiveness and continued preferential market access. The government is prioritizing industrialization, employment generation, and export diversification to sustain economic growth.
High Commissioner Pine underscored the importance of diversifying trade in the current global context and assured that New Zealand places significant importance on continuing existing market access facilities for Bangladesh. He expressed New Zealand’s interest in establishing a stable and long-term trade framework with Bangladesh.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to explore further collaboration, highlighting New Zealand’s high-quality, GMO-free products. Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, Ayesha Akter, also attended the meeting.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, May 18, 2026
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