Stronger private-sector ties seen as key to expanding bilateral commerce.
August 27, 2026 | Dhaka: The Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) has called for stronger institutional cooperation between the private sectors of Bangladesh and China to expand bilateral trade and attract greater Chinese investment.
FBCCI Administrator Md. Fazlul Hoque made the call during a courtesy meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Yao Wen on Wednesday afternoon.
During the meeting, Hoque highlighted Bangladesh’s growing investment potential and encouraged Chinese entrepreneurs to establish manufacturing facilities in the country’s Special Economic Zones, particularly in Chattogram and Khulna.
He assured Chinese businesses of full cooperation from the FBCCI in facilitating their operations and strengthening business engagement in Bangladesh.
The FBCCI administrator also stressed the need for closer coordination among the FBCCI, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) and the Chinese Enterprises Association in Bangladesh (CEAB).
He said stronger institutional links among these organisations could help create new avenues for trade, investment and private-sector cooperation between the two countries.
Hoque also urged the Chinese side to facilitate the visa process for Bangladeshi business representatives, saying easier travel would contribute to more effective commercial engagement and people-to-people business contacts.
Ambassador Yao Wen expressed the Chinese Embassy’s willingness to work closely with Bangladeshi business organisations to further strengthen bilateral economic and trade relations.
He identified several promising areas for Chinese investment and cooperation in Bangladesh, including electric vehicles, fruits and processed agricultural products, renewable energy and tourism.
FBCCI Secretary General Md. Alamgir and senior officials of the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka were also present at the meeting.
The discussions come against the backdrop of a substantial imbalance in Bangladesh-China trade. During the 2024–25 fiscal year, Bangladesh exported goods worth about $694 million to China, while imports from the country stood at approximately $18.19 billion.
The FBCCI administrator encouraged Chinese investors to expand their presence in Bangladesh as part of efforts to increase local production, boost exports and gradually reduce the bilateral trade gap.
