EU wants comprehensive partnership with Bangladesh
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has expressed a strong interest in deepening collaboration with Bangladesh and exploring new opportunities for partnership, including the potential for a Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
In a letter addressed to Bangladesh's Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, von der Leyen emphasized the EU's commitment to supporting Bangladesh in a reform process grounded in peaceful and inclusive principles, respect for democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. She underscored the importance of transparent, inclusive, and credible elections as part of this process.
'I sincerely welcome your dedication to sustainable development, the green transition, combating corruption, and advancing the digitalisation of financial systems,' she stated in the letter.
Highlighting the ongoing collaboration between the EU and Bangladesh, the European Commission President reiterated her commitment to expanding this partnership. 'We are already engaging with Bangladesh on these critical issues, and we look forward to exploring further possibilities for collaboration, including a potential Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement,' she added.
Von der Leyen also expressed the EU's willingness to address specific needs in collaboration with sectoral partners, offering additional support in alignment with existing initiatives.
She pointed out the significant potential for EU investments in Bangladesh under the Global Gateway initiative, which focuses on secure and reliable networks and connectivity. Key areas of investment include railways, water resource management, climate adaptation, health, digitalisation, and energy.
'We are working closely with your administration to strengthen the capacity of essential institutions,' she noted. 'To maximize the impact of these efforts, we aim to integrate targeted technical assistance to enhance policy development and governance, drawing on relevant EU experience.'
The European Union remains Bangladesh’s largest trading partner, accounting for over 58% of the country's total exports annually. Bangladesh exports goods worth over $25 billion to the EU, with garments alone contributing nearly $22 billion. Additionally, the EU absorbs more than 64% of Bangladesh’s total apparel exports, underscoring the importance of this bilateral trade relationship.
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