Bangladesh and Singapore have set a target to finalize a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by 2026, reaffirming their commitment during the fourth Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held on Monday, April 14, in Singapore.
According to a statement from Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Secretary Md. Masud Bin Momen led the Bangladeshi delegation, while Luke Goh, Permanent Secretary of Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented the Singaporean side. The FTA was a key agenda item in the bilateral discussions. 
Both countries engaged in comprehensive dialogue covering a wide range of sectors, including trade and investment, energy and power, connectivity, digital economy, healthcare, agriculture, waste management, tourism, and human resource development. Regional and global issues, such as climate change and migration, were also discussed.
The two sides agreed to sign several cooperation instruments, including a customs cooperation agreement, a revised protocol on double taxation avoidance, a mutual legal assistance treaty on criminal matters, and a memorandum of understanding on tourism collaboration.
Foreign Secretary Jasim Uddin emphasized Bangladesh’s growing reputation as a reliable sourcing destination for ready-made garments, pharmaceuticals, leather goods, ceramics, jute products, and footwear. He invited Singaporean businesses to invest in these sectors, particularly highlighting potential collaboration in energy, agritech, contract farming, and tourism infrastructure. He also sought Singapore’s support in developing waste-to-energy power plants in Bangladesh.
Both parties acknowledged the significant contributions of Bangladeshi workers in Singapore and discussed future cooperation in training and skill development under human resource development initiatives.
Additionally, Bangladesh expressed gratitude to Singapore for supporting its aspiration to become an ASEAN Sectoral Dialogue Partner and showed keen interest in joining the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
