Dhaka, August 24, 2025: Bangladeshi businessmen have proposed the resumption of direct flights and frequent shipping services with Pakistan to boost bilateral trade, alongside collaboration in digitisation, garments, and agriculture.
The proposals were tabled during a one-day visit of Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and Bangladesh’s Commerce Adviser Bashiruddin to Chittagong. The delegation was received by the district administration and Shah Amanat International Airport officials before holding talks with the Chittagong Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The visit included a field trip to the shipbreaking industry and Chittagong Port, where officials discussed logistics, shipping, and potential avenues for cooperation. Business leaders stressed the importance of restoring direct air and sea connectivity to reduce costs and enhance trade volumes.
In response, the two ministers announced that a Joint Working Group on Trade would be established soon to institutionalise dialogue on commerce. Both sides also highlighted opportunities for trilateral cooperation to access African and Central Asian markets.
The discussions focused on sectors including healthcare, leather, food, and essential commodities, with plans to draft a Pakistan-Bangladesh Trade and Investment Road Map. Pakistani officials also invited Bangladeshi businesses to participate in the 3rd International Food and Agricultural Exhibition in Karachi on November 25–27, 2025.
During the trip, the delegation visited Kabir Ship Recycling Facilities to explore collaboration in shipbuilding, shipbreaking, and recycling. At Chittagong Port, the port authority chairman gave a detailed presentation on the port’s history, operations, and ongoing expansion projects.
