The Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) and the Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade (BWA) of Germany have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation for boosting Bangladesh’s exports and bilateral business relationships.
The MoU signing took place at the Berlin BWA office, with Tapan Kanti Ghosh, the Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce, and Michael Schumann, BWA Board Chairman, in attendance. Urs Unkauf, Federal Managing Director of BWA in Germany, and Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, Vice President of BKMEA, signed the agreement on behalf of their organizations.
Tapan Kanti Ghosh is leading a delegation on an official visit to Germany, accompanied by BKMEA representatives including Mohammad Hatem, Executive President, and Vice Presidents Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, Amal Podder, Mohammad Rashed, and Md Samsuzzaman.
During the MoU signing, Ghosh expressed optimism about the meetings’ outcomes, emphasizing their role in strengthening bilateral trade relations and fostering economic cooperation. The discussions covered diverse topics such as trade policies, investment prospects, and knowledge exchange across various sectors.
Ghosh highlighted Bangladesh’s recent achievements, including transitioning from a Least Developed Country (LDC) to a Developing Country. He informed his German counterpart, Michael Kellner, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Action, about Bangladesh’s three-year Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) eligibility after becoming a Developing Country in 2026. Ghosh urged the extension of existing GSP benefits for six years and emphasized Germany’s influential role in this regard as a significant economy in Europe.
Kellner commended Bangladesh’s success story and noteworthy accomplishments, mentioning the ongoing development of the European Union’s Due Diligence law. He noted that the German law for due diligence will align with the EU law, highlighting the collaborative efforts between the two countries.
The meeting was coordinated by Saiful Islam, Minister (Commercial) of the Bangladesh Embassy in Berlin, Germany. The discussions reflect the commitment of both nations to fostering enduring relationships that contribute to mutual progress and prosperity.
