Trade minister discusses expanding economic cooperation with Bangladeshi ambassador

Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo met with Bangladesh's ambassador to Seoul on Friday to discuss ways to expand economic cooperation between the two countries, Yeo's office said.

In the meeting with Ambassador Toufiq Islam Shatil, Yeo said Bangladesh is a key market connecting Southeast and Southwest Asia and an important economic cooperation partner for Korea, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy.

Bangladesh has abundant human resources and has maintained an average growth rate of over 6 percent, Yeo noted, adding that its domestic market is expected to further grow after the country graduates from the United Nations' least developed country category in 2026.

The trade minister called for efforts to expand bilateral cooperation, which is currently centered on the garment industry, into various sectors, including electronics, digital and carbon neutrality, the ministry said.

This week, Korea and Bangladesh launched their official negotiations for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement.