Bangladesh offers Special Economic Zone to Turkey

Bangladesh has offered a dedicated Special Economic Zone to Turkey as part of an effort to scale up bilateral trade, investment, and industrial partnerships between the two nations.

The proposal was made during a high-level bilateral meeting between Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr. Khalilur Rahman and the visiting Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at a hotel in the capital on Friday afternoon (June 5).

Speaking at a joint press conference following the talks, Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman stated that the discussions, held under the directives of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, focused heavily on expanding economic ties. He noted that the two countries explored the possibilities of signing a Free Trade Agreement as well as a Preferential Trade Agreement to rapidly boost their bilateral trade volume.

During the meeting, the Turkish delegation was briefed on the various incentives Bangladesh offers to foreign investors. Dr. Khalilur Rahman invited Turkish entrepreneurs to invest in the country's growing private and specialized economic zones, explicitly extending government backing for an exclusive Turkish Economic Zone in Bangladesh.

The Foreign Minister emphasized that the current political stability, business-friendly environment, and expanding domestic market make Bangladesh an ideal destination for Turkish industrial integration. Bangladesh highlighted several key sectors for potential investment, including textiles and apparel, defense materiel production, shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, renewable energy, information technology, and civil aviation.

Furthermore, Bangladesh proposed that Turkey establish an international-standard hospital and a nursing institute in Dhaka. Dr. Khalilur Rahman also requested an increase in scholarships for Bangladeshi students, pointing out that a majority of the 3,000 Bangladeshi nationals currently living in Turkey are pursuing higher education.

Beyond trade, the two leaders discussed regional stability, with a particular focus on the ongoing Rohingya crisis. Characterizing the situation as one of Bangladesh's foremost humanitarian and diplomatic challenges, Dr. Khalilur Rahman reiterated that the ultimate solution remains the safe, voluntary, dignified, and sustainable repatriation of the refugees. Noting that nine years have passed since the crisis escalated, he called for unified international action to expedite a resolution and expressed gratitude to Turkey for its continued diplomatic and humanitarian support.

Both ministers concluded that the visit marks a crucial juncture in Bangladesh-Turkey relations, showcasing a mutual commitment to elevating the bilateral partnership to new heights.