Malaysia and Bangladesh Target 2027 Deadline for Free Trade Agreement

Malaysia and Bangladesh have completed their first round of free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations in Dhaka, with both sides agreeing to reconvene for a second round of talks in January and aiming to conclude the deal by the end of 2027.

The Bangladesh Ministry of Commerce said the inaugural round of negotiations ended on Thursday after three days of discussions in the Bangladeshi capital. Working groups from both countries reviewed draft texts spanning several chapters of the proposed agreement, covering trade in goods and services, investment, digital trade, customs, and rules of origin.

Malaysia’s delegation to the Dhaka talks was led by Dr Rashidi Said, a senior official at the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI).

Raising Economic Ties to the Next Level

Bangladesh’s chief negotiator, Khadija Nazneen, an additional secretary at the commerce ministry, said the proposed FTA was expected to deepen the economic partnership between the two countries and strengthen cooperation in technology, investment and the industrial sector, according to local media reports.

The Bangladesh Ministry of Commerce noted that with the conclusion of the first round, the drafting process had moved a step forward.

A second round of negotiations is scheduled for January, with both sides targeting a finalised agreement before the close of 2027.