Bangladesh's Foreign Secretary Ambassador Md. Jashim Uddin met with Singapore's Foreign Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan on Monday, April 14, 2025, following successful foreign secretary-level bilateral consultations between the two nations.
Foreign Minister Balakrishnan expressed his satisfaction with the outcome of the consultations. Ambassador Uddin conveyed that the discussions were productive, covering various important issues. He lauded Singapore's leadership in economic development, governance, and its free market economy, highlighting it as a model for Asian countries, including Bangladesh. He also commended Singapore's management of its migrant worker regime and thanked the government for its care of Bangladeshi expatriates.
Focusing on economic ties, Ambassador Uddin emphasized the potential for Bangladeshi products like pharmaceuticals, leather goods, ready-made garments (RMG), ceramics, bicycles, home textiles, and footwear in the Singaporean market. He stressed the importance of finalizing the ongoing negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) to further boost bilateral trade.
Highlighting Singapore's role as a significant source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh, the Foreign Secretary invited increased investment in priority sectors such as energy, ICT, telecommunications, port and airport infrastructure, urban development, and agro-processing. He specifically emphasized the need for cooperation in the health sector, including capacity building, expertise sharing, and the development of health infrastructure in Bangladesh.
Minister Balakrishnan was briefed on the Rohingya crisis, and he reaffirmed Singapore's support to Bangladesh on this matter. Regarding Bangladesh's application for ASEAN sectoral dialogue partner status, Singapore reiterated its support, emphasizing the continued mutual support between the two friendly nations on regional and global issues of mutual interest. Ambassador Uddin thanked the Foreign Minister and expressed hope that Singapore would leverage its position within ASEAN to build consensus on this matter.
Both sides acknowledged the importance of regular political interactions and high-level visits, including a potential visit by the Singaporean Foreign Minister to Bangladesh, to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.
