Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir. File photo

DHAKA, July 26, 2026 (BSS) – Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir today said that Bangladesh is moving ahead with an aggressive free trade agenda, announcing that negotiations on Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with South Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are expected to be completed shortly.

Speaking at a press briefing at the Ministry of Commerce, the minister said the government is also aiming to conclude free trade negotiations with four to five more countries by December as part of its strategy to expand export markets ahead of the country's graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC) status.

He said the government is attaching top priority to signing FTAs and other preferential trade agreements to ensure continued market access and strengthen Bangladesh's competitiveness in the global market.

The minister also said the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan will be placed before the next session of Parliament for enforcement, paving the way for deeper bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

He added that the European Union (EU), Bangladesh's largest trading partner, has expressed interest in initiating negotiations on a FTA with Bangladesh.

The minister said these agreements are expected to help diversify export destinations, attract greater foreign investment and facilitate a smoother transition following Bangladesh's LDC graduation.

He expressed optimism that the government's trade diplomacy and ongoing negotiations with key partners would create new opportunities for exporters and contribute to sustaining the country's long-term export growth.