Published: 11:19 PM, 02 October 2026
Humaiun seeks stronger economic, defence ties with Korea
Bangladesh on Friday sought stronger economic and defence cooperation with the Republic of Korea, calling for an early economic partnership agreement, greater investment and expanded training opportunities during separate ministerial meetings in Seoul.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir held talks with Korean First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Yoon-joo and Vice Minister of National Defense Lee Doo-hee, according to a foreign ministry press release.
During his meeting with Park, Kobir handed over an invitation letter from Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time.
He conveyed Bangladesh's readiness to work closely with the Korean government to deepen longstanding friendly relations and welcomed progress towards concluding the Bangladesh-ROK Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), expressing hope for its early signing.
The state minister sought greater bilateral trade, enhanced market access for Bangladeshi products and increased Korean investment in semiconductors, electronics, shipbuilding, light engineering, high-end readymade garments, ICT and other technology-intensive sectors.
He also highlighted opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing, logistics, digital transformation, skills development and services.
Kobir sought Korean support for expanding employment opportunities for Bangladeshi skilled and semi-skilled workers through the Employment Permit System.
Appreciating Korea's development partnership, he called for enhanced cooperation in climate resilience, infrastructure, human-resource development, technical and vocational education and digital technologies.
He praised Korea's transformation into a global economic and technological leader, saying its development experience continued to inspire Bangladesh.
The state minister expressed satisfaction with regular Foreign Office Consultations and other high-level exchanges, and reaffirmed Bangladesh's support for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.
He thanked Korea for its humanitarian assistance to the Rohingyas and sought continued support for their early and sustainable repatriation to Myanmar.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues and reaffirmed the importance of cooperation in multilateral forums.
At the separate meeting with Lee Doo-hee, discussions focused on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation through training, capacity building, UN peacekeeping and defence industry collaboration.
Kobir appreciated Korea's assistance in training Bangladesh's armed forces, police and civil defence personnel, and requested expanded opportunities for specialised training.
He also encouraged Korea to send military personnel to participate in specialised courses offered by the Bangladesh Armed Forces.
The state minister informed the Korean side that Bangladesh was in the process of establishing a defence industrial zone and invited Korean interest in exploring investment opportunities to advance technology and industrial cooperation.
The Korean side welcomed Bangladesh's interest in stronger defence relations and expressed readiness to explore greater cooperation in mutually agreed areas, including training, capacity building and peacekeeping.
