Bangladesh and South Korea have agreed to finalize the draft of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) by December 2026, paving the way for high-level formal signing ceremonies.
The consensus was reached during a bilateral meeting between Bangladesh Commerce Minister Khandokar Abdul Muktadir and South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Kim Ji-hoon at the Bangladesh Secretariat on Tuesday, November 10, 2026.
During the discussion, Ambassador Kim Ji-hoon underscored the importance of finalizing CEPA to bolster bilateral trade, noting that South Korea has already communicated its position on the draft framework and questionnaire. Addressing operational challenges faced by approximately 200 Korean companies in Bangladesh, the Ambassador highlighted administrative delays regarding Samsung’s R&D center sample imports, customs clearance, and Import Permits (IP).
Read nextTejgaon Thana Chhatra Dal Holds Vigilant Standing Program in Farmgate Against Political AnarchyIn response, Commerce Minister Khandokar Abdul Muktadir assigned a Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce as a dedicated focal point to resolve import bottlenecks for Samsung and other Korean investors. He announced that visa processes and IP issuance are being transitioned to a real-time online system, and announced an upcoming joint coordination meeting involving the Ministry of Commerce, National Board of Revenue (NBR), and Ministry of Finance.
Additionally, the Minister proposed establishing a specialized "Design & Development Center" in the shipbuilding sector to utilize Bangladeshi engineers for global projects. Ambassador Kim warmly responded, pledging to explore long-term technology transfer and joint investments with leading Korean shipbuilders such as Hanwha Ocean and Hyundai Heavy Industries, alongside discussions on LNG supply cooperation.
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Reported by Staff Reporter • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
