Bangladesh, Kosovo Discuss Boosting Trade and Economic Cooperation

Bangladesh and Kosovo have discussed expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation by utilizing mechanisms such as Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), and the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA).

The discussion took place during a meeting at the Ministry of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation in Pristina, the capital of Kosovo.

The Bangladesh delegation was led by Ambassador Md. Nazrul Islam, Secretary (Bilateral) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kosovo’s Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship, Trade and Innovation, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, was present at the meeting.

In a press release on Friday (August 14), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that S. M. Mahbubul Alam, Director General (East Europe and CIS) of Bangladesh's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Lulzim Pllana, Kosovo’s Ambassador to Bangladesh, were also present.

The discussions focused on strengthening economic ties, boosting bilateral trade, and creating new investment opportunities, with particular emphasis on pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and information technology.

Both sides agreed to leverage trade and investment potential by increasing business-to-business contact and arranging visits of commercial delegations.

The Bangladeshi side called for expanding exports of ready-made garments (RMG), jute and jute products, ceramics, and pharmaceuticals to the Kosovar market. In addition, Kosovar investors were invited to take advantage of Bangladesh’s business-friendly environment and invest in its Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

The meeting also featured discussions on forming a Joint Working Group (JWG) on trade and economic cooperation, alongside an invitation extended to an exploratory business delegation from Kosovo to visit Bangladesh.

To foster cooperation among traders, potential ties between the Kosovo Chamber of Commerce (OEK) and the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) were discussed, as well as the possibility of Bangladeshi companies setting up manufacturing operations in Kosovo.

Minister Mimoza Kusari-Lila highlighted Kosovo as an attractive investment destination due to its proximity to EU markets, favorable fiscal policies, competitive workforce, and access to European markets through CEFTA and EFTA. She added that Bangladesh could also benefit from Kosovo’s regional connectivity within the Western Balkans.

Both parties discussed initiating the process for a bilateral Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and expressed confidence that these initiatives would open up new horizons for trade and investment between the two nations.