Singapore has expressed keen interest in assisting with the management of port operations in Bangladesh, particularly the Bay Terminal in Chattogram.
The announcement came during a meeting between Singapore’s Non-Resident High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Derek Loh Eu-Tse, and the President of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Mahmud Hasan Khan.
The meeting, held at the BGMEA headquarters on Wednesday, covered a range of strategic topics including bilateral trade, investment, logistics, and port management. According to a BGMEA press release issued on Thursday.
High Commissioner Derek Loh highlighted Singapore’s global expertise in port logistics, noting that the country ranks second worldwide in container traffic handling.
He stated that Singapore is ready to leverage its advanced technology, efficient systems, and vast experience to support Bangladesh in upgrading its logistics and port infrastructure.
Welcoming the proposal, BGMEA President Mahmud Hasan Khan said, “This cooperation can significantly reduce port handling time, streamline the shipping process, and lower overall costs for import-export trade.”
The High Commissioner also inquired about the current state of trade and investment in Bangladesh following the recent public movement in July-August. In response, the BGMEA President noted that the business environment is showing positive signs, with growing efficiency, reduced operational costs, and improvements in transparency and accountability.
Khan urged Singaporean businesses to explore investment opportunities in promising sectors such as healthcare, particularly in building international-standard hospitals. In turn, the High Commissioner emphasized the importance of ensuring full profit repatriation as a prerequisite for attracting foreign investment.
During the meeting, the BGMEA President sought support from the Singapore High Commission to expand the export of Bangladeshi agricultural products and fruits to Singapore. The High Commissioner encouraged Bangladesh to focus on producing high-value, premium-branded garments to boost apparel exports to the Singaporean market.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the High Commissioner extended an invitation to the BGMEA President to visit Singapore along with a delegation to observe the country’s port operations firsthand.
Other attendees included Mitchell Lee, Chargé d’Affaires at the Singapore High Commission; Taal Dae Ern, Country Officer from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Benjamin Chu, Development Partner at Enterprise Singapore; and Rumana Rashid, Director of BGMEA.