Bangladesh and the European Union (EU) have stressed the need to strengthen their existing trade and economic ties and expand cooperation into new areas.

The issue was discussed during a courtesy meeting between EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller and Md Khaled Hossain Mahbub, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Commerce, at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban on Wednesday.

Deputy Head of the EU Delegation Baiba Zarina and Commerce Adviser Abu Said Belal were also present at the meeting.

The discussions covered a range of issues of mutual interest, including democratic practices in Bangladesh, the functioning of parliament, the effectiveness of parliamentary standing committees, the 13th Jatiya Sangsad election, the investment climate, labour law, market access for Bangladeshi products in the EU, and bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

The two sides also discussed investment opportunities in Bangladesh, measures to create a more investment-friendly environment, and ways to further expand Bangladesh-EU trade and economic cooperation.

Particular emphasis was placed on increasing access for Bangladeshi products to the EU market, improving labour laws and workers’ welfare, developing the investment environment, and expanding cooperation into new areas of trade.

During the meeting, Mahbub briefed the EU delegation on the development of parliamentary democracy, the activities of the Jatiya Sangsad and the role of parliamentary standing committees.

He described the standing committees as “mini-parliaments” and said they help ensure accountability of the executive branch to parliament and the people’s representatives. He also said necessary directions had been given to make the committees more effective and productive.

The committee chairman also highlighted government initiatives to eliminate child labour and encourage children to attend school, including midday meals, educational materials and sports activities.

He said the government was also working to ensure a more supportive workplace environment for women, including maternity leave. On the energy sector, he said the government was focusing on renewable energy to achieve sustainable solutions.

The EU delegation expressed interest in Bangladesh’s parliament, democratic institutions, and areas related to trade and economic cooperation. The two sides subsequently exchanged views in detail on areas of mutual interest.

According to European Commission data cited in the source, EU-Bangladesh merchandise trade stood at €23.3 billion in 2025, while textile products accounted for around 94% of the EU’s imports from Bangladesh that year.