B Mirror ReportL: The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has called for increased New Zealand investment in Bangladesh’s dairy, agriculture, and food supply chain sectors, citing significant opportunities for bilateral cooperation in technology transfer, food processing, and renewable energy.

The call was made during a courtesy meeting between DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed and New Zealand’s Non-resident High Commissioner to Bangladesh, David Pine, at the DCCI Gulshan Center in Dhaka on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Taskeen Ahmed said New Zealand has earned a global reputation for excellence in dairy production, advanced agriculture, and food safety standards. He noted that Bangladesh could benefit greatly from New Zealand’s expertise in dairy processing, livestock feed production, dairy farm modernization, improved cattle breeds, fisheries, veterinary training, and agricultural technology transfer.

He invited New Zealand’s private sector to invest through joint ventures and independent projects in Bangladesh’s agriculture, food processing, consumer goods, food supply chain management, water and climate management, and renewable energy sectors.

Referring to the bilateral trade volume of US$497.43 million in FY2025, the DCCI President also urged New Zealand to increase imports of Bangladeshi products, including readymade garments, leather goods, and ICT-enabled services, to further strengthen trade relations between the two countries.

Speaking at the meeting, David Pine assured that New Zealand would continue providing duty-free and preferential market access facilities for Bangladeshi products even after Bangladesh graduates from the Least Developed Country (LDC) category.

He emphasized the importance of maintaining uninterrupted market access for Bangladeshi goods following LDC graduation and stressed the need to explore trade agreements, including a possible Free Trade Agreement (FTA), to expand bilateral trade and investment opportunities.

The envoy also highlighted the importance of diversifying both export destinations and import sources amid changing global trade dynamics. He described New Zealand as a dependable trade partner known for high standards, strict food safety measures, and GMO-free products.

DCCI Senior Vice President Razeev H. Chowdhury and Vice President Md. Salem Sulaiman also attended the meeting.